In a significant update regarding its lunar exploration initiatives, Blue Origin has unveiled new details about the development of its Artemis lunar lander, specifically the Blue Moon Mark 2. This announcement comes as the company approaches the inaugural launch of its smaller lander model. During the Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium's spring meeting on May 19, John Couluris, the senior vice president of lunar permanence at Blue Origin, presented a detailed illustration of a new “transporter” vehicle designed to support the Blue Moon Mark 2 lander.
The transporter is an integral component of the architecture that Blue Origin has kept relatively under wraps since securing a $3.4 billion contract from NASA two years ago for the Human Landing System (HLS) program. While initial plans indicated that other companies within the Blue Origin-led “National Team” would develop the transporter, industry insiders have revealed that Blue Origin has since taken full control of its development. “This vehicle has evolved significantly since we first won,” Couluris stated, highlighting the advancements made in the vehicle's design and functionality.
The primary function of the transporter is to aggregate liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellant in Earth orbit, subsequently transporting it to a near-rectilinear halo orbit around the moon. Here, the propellants will be transferred to the Blue Moon lander to facilitate lunar landings. The transporter will be launched into low Earth orbit using a New Glenn rocket, and it will be fueled with excess propellant from the upper stages of the New Glenn, although specific details regarding the number of required refuelings remain undisclosed. The vehicle will feature tanks seven meters in diameter, matching the dimensions of the upper stage, as part of a streamlined production approach.
A critical component of this transport system is the implementation of zero-boiloff technology, which aims to minimize losses of cryogenic propellants during storage. Couluris acknowledged the challenges of achieving this technology, stating, “You always hear, ‘wow, that’s hard to do,’ and it is hard to do.” Nevertheless, he affirmed that the company is making substantial progress in maintaining liquid hydrogen at 20 kelvins and liquid oxygen at 90 kelvins. In collaboration with NASA, Blue Origin has integrated its first prototype into a thermal vacuum chamber, with plans to demonstrate consistent storage of these propellants by June and transition to flight units by December.
Couluris emphasized that successfully storing liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen for extended periods would mark a significant milestone. This propellant combination boasts the highest performance among major chemical propulsion systems and can be sourced from water found on the moon or other celestial bodies. A fully fueled transporter is capable of carrying approximately 100 metric tons from Earth orbit to lunar orbit, with potential applications extending beyond the moon. He noted that with minimal modifications, the transporter could also deliver up to 30 metric tons to Martian orbit, thereby expanding the possibilities for exploration throughout the solar system.
While specific timelines for testing the transporter and the Blue Moon Mark 2 lander remain unspecified, Jacki Cortese, Senior Director of Civil Space at Blue Origin, announced during a separate panel at the conference on May 20 that the company anticipates conducting both an uncrewed and a crewed test landing of the Blue Moon Mark 2 by the end of the decade.
In addition to the Mark 2, Blue Origin is also advancing work on the Blue Moon Mark 1, a robotic lander designed to deliver up to three metric tons to the lunar surface. This lander incorporates technologies similar to those used in the larger Mark 2 model, including the BE-7 engine. Couluris confirmed that the first flight of the Blue Moon Mark 1 is scheduled for this year, following a task order from NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program to carry a camera payload. “This will land this year on the south pole of the moon,” he stated, noting that the Mark 1 is currently being assembled in Florida and is expected to ship from the factory in approximately six weeks.
After assembly, the Mark 1 will undergo tests at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in a large thermal vacuum chamber before returning to Florida for launch aboard a New Glenn rocket, embarking on a seven-day journey to the moon. Blue Origin is also constructing a second Blue Moon Mark 1 lander, which is projected to be six to eight months behind the first. “We’re building intentionally now to get hardware-rich,” Couluris explained, emphasizing the importance of learning from the outcomes of the first mission to refine future endeavors. If the initial mission does not succeed, he assured that the company would apply the lessons learned to enhance the next vehicle.
Cortese concluded by stating that the work on Blue Moon is being conducted in a dedicated facility aimed at establishing a production line capability. While she did not specify the projected production rate for the lander, she highlighted the importance of procuring all necessary hardware for two Mark 1 missions well in advance, especially considering supply chain challenges. “Ideally, we’ll have a successful first mission of Mark 1, incorporate any findings and be able to fly again,” she said. “If it is not successful, we have another lander ready to go. That was something that was really important for us.”
