Blue Origin
Jeff Bezos aerospace company; building Blue Moon Mark 2 lunar lander for Artemis IV.
Last refreshed: 14 April 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Can Blue Moon be ready for a crewed lunar landing if Artemis IV targets 2028?
Timeline for Blue Origin
Mentioned in: Isaacman pledges 2028 Moon landing date
Artemis II Moon MissionMentioned in: Artemis III demoted to Earth orbit test
Artemis II Moon Mission- Is Blue Origin building a Moon lander for NASA?
- Yes. Blue Origin's Blue Moon Mark 2 is one of two NASA Human Landing System vehicles under contract, alongside SpaceX's Starship HLS. Its first crewed use is expected on Artemis IV, currently targeting the late 2020s.Source: NASA HLS contract award 2023
- What is the Blue Moon lander?
- Blue Moon Mark 2 is Blue Origin's lunar lander, designed to carry crew from lunar orbit to the surface. It was awarded a NASA Artemis HLS contract in 2023 as a second provider alongside SpaceX Starship HLS.
- When will Blue Origin land on the Moon?
- Blue Moon Mark 2 is not expected to make its first crewed lunar landing before Artemis IV. Artemis III was redesignated in February 2026 as an Earth-orbit docking test, pushing the landing to Artemis IV or later.Source: event
- What is the difference between Blue Origin and SpaceX for Artemis?
- Both are NASA HLS contractors. SpaceX Starship HLS is assigned to Artemis III (now an orbit test) and future missions; Blue Moon Mark 2 is assigned from Artemis IV. The NASA OIG found Starship HLS at least two years behind schedule.Source: NASA OIG IG-26-004
Background
Blue Origin is the private aerospace company founded by Jeff Bezos and headquartered in Kent, Washington. It is one of NASA's two Human Landing System (HLS) contractors, building the Blue Moon Mark 2 lunar lander to carry crew to the lunar surface from Artemis IV onwards. Artemis III was redesignated in February 2026 from a crewed lunar landing to an Earth-orbit docking test ; Blue Moon's first crewed use is therefore not expected until Artemis IV or later.
Blue Origin's orbital programme is anchored by its New Glenn rocket, which completed its first orbital flight in January 2025 after years of delays. Its suborbital vehicle, New Shepard, has flown paying tourists since 2021. The Blue Moon Mark 2 contract was awarded in 2023 alongside a continued SpaceX Starship HLS contract, in a dual-vendor strategy intended to reduce NASA's dependence on any single company.
Blue Origin's significance within Artemis has grown sharply since Artemis III's demotion pushed the first crewed lunar landing to Artemis IV. The company is on a compressed timeline to deliver a lander that must work on the first attempt at the Moon, without a prior unmanned landing demonstration under NASA contract. The NASA Office of Inspector General has assessed Starship HLS as at least two years behind schedule; Blue Moon has faced less public scrutiny, but both landers must be ready before a crewed landing can proceed .