# NASA Tests Artemis III Lander Operations

NASA plans to use its 2027 Artemis III mission to test crewed rendezvous, docking, and operational procedures in low Earth orbit with Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 2 and SpaceX’s Starship human-landing-system test articles. The mission is an integration and validation milestone ahead of future lunar operations, but the signal announces no new solicitation, contract value, or procurement contact.

- The tests bring two human-landing-system developers into a shared mission sequence, making system interfaces and coordinated operations central considerations for contractors supporting lunar missions.
- Companies providing integration, testing, and mission-support capabilities can use the planned 2027 milestone to assess where their services may fit into future lunar operations; the signal identifies no specific procurement opportunity or deadline.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Published:** October 23, 2026

### Government Entities
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

### Vendors
- Blue Origin (Human landing system developer)
- SpaceX (Human landing system developer)

### Key Quotes
> Every piece of this mission in Earth orbit is designed to reduce risk before we put astronauts back on the Moon. We’re launching three spacecraft on three different rockets and testing how they operate together — something NASA has never attempted. Every lesson we learn here gets us closer to landing on the Moon in 2028.
> — Jeremy Parsons, NASA Artemis program manager

### Sources
- [NASA’s Artemis III Mission to Test Future Moon Lander Operations - NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/nasas-artemis-iii-mission-to-test-future-moon-lander-operations/) - NASA