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# 'Accelerated' Plans for Artemis IV Moon Landing Detailed at Last
- URL: https://proximareport.com/accelerated-plans-artemis-nasa/
- Published: 2026-10-27T19:25:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-27T19:25:00.000Z
- Author: Jack C.
- Tags: NASA, Space Exploration, United States, Blue Origin, SpaceX

Eight months [ago in February](https://proximareport.com/nasa-reorganizes-artemis-rocket/), NASA announced it was reorganizing its Artemis program to return American astronauts to the Moon, descoping next years Artemis III mission and moving a first landing to Artemis IV in 2028 at the earliest to allow for 'accelerated' plans using two contracted lunar landers. Last week, [on October 23rd](https://www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/nasa-partners-accelerate-lander-development-for-2028-moon-missions/?ref=proximareport.com), the U.S. space agency provided an update on what those plans are during an event at the Kennedy Space Center, in Florida. 

Starting with what is believed to be the favored lander, plans with Blue Origin's stripped-down 'Blue Moon Mark 2 Alpha' will see five launches taking place from Florida. The first four of those will make use of the company's [New Glenn rockets](https://proximareport.com/new-glenn-two-florida-pads/) to place the lunar lander into low Earth orbit to meet three single-use transfer stages, two of which will boost the lander towards an elliptical polar orbit and one will perform a braking burn.

Sometime after 'Mark 2 Alpha' enters orbit, NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket will send four astronauts to meet the lander onboard an Orion spacecraft, with two to board it for a landing. From there, the mission plan is fairly basic, with Blue Origin's lander descending to the surface, spending an undisclosed amount of time there, and then returning the two astronauts to Orion in the polar orbit. After that, Orion would head back to Earth.

As for SpaceX's plans using the [once-orbitally flown](https://proximareport.com/starship-flight-fourteen-orbit/) Starship-Super Heavy, it is much more complex. Those will start with the launch of a 'Depot' Starship into low Earth orbit, where it will be topped by several 'Tankers'. Once a sufficient amount of propellant has been moved into orbit, the 'Lander' Starship will fly into space to meet it and be refilled, moving into an undisclosed higher tanking orbit afterwards. Then, the 'Depot' will be topped up again, allowing for it to head to the 'Lander' and refill it again. Between those operations, SLS will launch astronauts aboard Orion into a high Earth orbit where it will dock with the 'Lander' not long afterwards. It is [presently estimated that](https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/10/latest-estimate-for-starship-launches-required-to-support-a-moon-landing-22/?ref=proximareport.com) SpaceX's plan will require around twenty-two launches to occur within a few weeks.

Once the two spacecraft are docked, the 'Lander' will bring them both into a low lunar orbit. From there, two astronauts will go to the surface onboard the 'Lander' for a while before being brought back to Orion. Following that, Orion will light its engines for its first major burn to return to Earth.

Both Blue Origin and SpaceX's first crewed lunar landers were said to presently be in the early stages of manufacturing for each of their crew cabins, propellant tanks, and other needed systems. Under current plans, those first landers will head to the surface uncrewed to demonstrate all systems in flight. 

![Concept of operations graphics for Blue Origin (left) and SpaceX's (right) planned crewed lunar landings. ©NASA](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c1/15/c115fdad-529f-4ea1-9d82-260375a868a5/content/images/2026/10/blue-origin-con-op.png)

Concept of operations graphics for Blue Origin (left) and SpaceX's (right) planned crewed lunar landings. ©NASA

When those demonstration missions will occur was not stated by NASA last week. However, the space agency provided an update behind closed doors at the International Astronautical Congress earlier this month. [That revealed that](https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20260009199/downloads/HLS%20IAC%202026%20Presentation%20FINAL.pdf?ref=proximareport.com) Blue Origin is exploring a demonstrative mission to begin towards the end of next year and land in the first quarter of 2028, while SpaceX is looking to fly its through the last two quarters of 2027.

The results of the demonstration missions, should they conclude before Artemis IV is desired to begin in 2028, will inform NASA's decision on which company's lander they pick for the first U.S. mission to the Moon's surface since 1972\. Speaking on that, Artemis Program Manager Jeremy Parsons shared:

> "NASA and our lunar lander providers Blue Origin and SpaceX have been working hand in hand to ensure we can return American astronauts to the Moon by 2028\. \[...\] NASA and its partners are on the same page with requirements and other milestones to ensure continued insight into lander development to support mission success and the safety of our Moon crews."

Related to safety and meeting the wanted schedule, NASA has also reduced the design requirements on the lunar surface spacesuits being produced by Axiom Space, [said to have](https://youtu.be/pAKqJxuxDgk?t=3433&ref=proximareport.com) halved its mass by doing so. With that change, the suits are now expected to allow for just two two-hour-long spacewalks during Artemis IV.

Ahead of either landing going to the Moon, both will fly for the low Earth orbit-limited Artemis III mission, currently looking to take place in the second half of 2027 for [around two weeks](https://www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/nasas-artemis-iii-mission-to-test-future-moon-lander-operations/?ref=proximareport.com). That mission will see [astronauts](https://proximareport.com/artemis-iii-all-male/) Randolph Bresnik, Luca Parmitano, Frank Rubio, and Andre Douglas boarding a version of Blue Origin's lander and docking with a modified Starship. Astronaut training for Artemis III [began in August](https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/08/27/nasa-starts-artemis-iii-engine-install-boosters-crew-training-advance/?ref=proximareport.com).

![NASA slides shown to a small audience at the International Astronautical Congress in early October 2026. ©NASA](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c1/15/c115fdad-529f-4ea1-9d82-260375a868a5/content/images/2026/10/Screenshot-2026-10-27-at-16-32-02-HLS-IAC-2026-Presentation-FINAL.pdf-1-.png)

NASA slides shown to a small audience at the International Astronautical Congress in early October 2026\. ©NASA

NASA's changes to Artemis IV and the descoping of Artemis III has been driven by [the American perception](https://youtu.be/pAKqJxuxDgk?t=399&ref=proximareport.com) of a new Moon race against China's lunar exploration program, which aims to have at least two taikonauts on the surface before the end of 2029\. Efforts for that have been moving smoothly, across [advanced spacesuits](https://www.china-in-space.com/p/wangyu-lunar-spacesuit-work-progressing?ref=proximareport.com), [dedicated launch facilities](https://www.china-in-space.com/p/wenchang-moves-towards-readiness?ref=proximareport.com), and [verification missions](https://www.china-in-space.com/p/lanyue-to-perform-scientific-cargo?ref=proximareport.com). Unlike the U.S., Chinese planners [aren't reorganizing their efforts](https://www.china-in-space.com/p/china-is-not-racing-to-the-moon?ref=proximareport.com) to win a short-term geopolitical genital measuring contest.