Blue Moon mockup steps into NASA training role for Artemis mission prep

Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 2 crew lander mockup has been assembled at NASA’s Johnson Space Center Space Vehicle Mockup Facility and is now ready for Artemis astronaut training, enabling crews to train in a full-scale cabin adjacent to the Orion capsule as Artemis 3 prep continues; Artemis 3 targets a 2027–2028 window depending on lander readiness, with NASA planning to fly either Starship or Blue Moon, while Blue Moon MK1 cargo variant has completed vacuum testing for an uncrewed lunar mission, though schedules remain subject to delays and regulatory reviews (FAA).