Space & Astronomy

SpaceX and Blue Origin compete to be first to return humans to the Moon

By T.K. Randall
April 14, 2026

Image: SpaceX and Blue Origin Human Landing Systems
Credit: (PD) NASA Now that Artemis II has successfully returned from its journey around the Moon, all eyes are on next year's Artemis III and, in particular, the lunar lander (or Human Landing System (HLS) vehicle) that will eventually see astronauts walk on the Moon during the subsequent Artemis IV mission.

Both SpaceX and Blue Origin have been developing competing lunar lander vehicles, with Musk's Starship Human Landing System (HLS) being the obvious frontrunner.

Due to delays, however, it looks as though Blue Origin's candidate may also be in with a chance.

Now, according to reports, one or both of the two company's landers may be trialled in orbit during the Artemis III mission, with NASA then selecting the best one for the actual Artemis IV landing.As such, both company's will now be desperately vying to build the winning candidate.

Both lunar landing systems are far larger than the lunar modules used during the Apollo program while supporting up to four astronauts (as oppose to just two).

The Starship HLS in particular is absolutely gigantic - measuring 52 meters in height (over three times taller than Blue Moon) - while being capable of transporting over 100 tons of cargo.

It could be argued, in fact, that Musk's solution to the problem is overkill, though its enormous size and capacity will no doubt prove invaluable when it comes to building a base on the Moon.

Whether NASA will ultimately favor Musk's behemoth over Blue Origin's more modest landing vehicle remains, for now at least, unclear.

Source: Mail Online

Tags: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Moon, Artemis