NASA has introduced a full-scale prototype of the crew cabin for Blue Origin's Mark 2 moon lander at its Johnson Space Center. This development is part of the agency's broader strategy to achieve a moon landing by 2028, following the successful Artemis II mission. The prototype, which stands 15 feet tall, will facilitate critical training including mission control communications and simulated moonwalk preparations.
Both Blue Origin and SpaceX have been selected to provide lunar landers, despite neither having completed a moon landing to date. The entire lander, including integrated systems, is expected to reach a height of 52 feet for the actual mission. NASA has emphasized the challenges of achieving a smooth lunar landing, underscoring the urgency for both companies to meet the agency's timeline.
In parallel, Blue Origin's uncrewed lander, known as Endurance (or MK1), is currently undergoing tests in a thermal vacuum chamber. This lander is slated for its inaugural mission this year, aimed at delivering scientific payloads to the lunar surface. Meanwhile, the next phase of the Artemis program, Artemis III, is planned for 2027, featuring a test of docking capabilities with the selected lunar landers.