Introducing Artemis III.
Four astronauts. Three launches. Two dockings. One splashdown.
In 2027, the Artemis III mission will practice docking the Orion spacecraft with two lunar landers in low Earth orbit — the capability we need to return humanity to the Moon’s surface.
It’s 2011, the Shuttle is retired, SpaceX carries the US Space Program
It’s 2014, Russia withholds ULA’s engines, SpaceX carries the US Space Program
It’s 2020, OneWeb goes bankrupt, SpaceX carries the US Space Program
It’s 2023, Russia & Ariane withdraw from international markets, SpaceX carries the US Space Program
It’s 2024, Starliner fails, SpaceX carries the US Space Program
It’s 2025, Roscosmos loses their pad, SpaceX carries the US Space Program
It’s 2026, Blue Origin loses their pad, SpaceX carries the US Space Program
@imPenny2x@SecDuffyNASA They won’t. SpaceX is moving like lightning compared to the rest of the space industry.
Moreover, Starship will end up doing the whole Moon mission. Mark my words.