NASA Faces Challenges in Artemis Moon Lander Development and Crew Safety

NASA is working to reduce risks associated with its upcoming Artemis missions to the Moon, but a recent report from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) highlights gaps in the agency’s approach, particularly regarding testing of critical lander systems and crew safety provisions. The report, released on March 10, 2026, assesses NASA’s management of contracts with SpaceX and Blue Origin for the development of Human Landing Systems (HLS).

Artemis Program Adjustments and Lander Development

NASA recently announced a major overhaul of the Artemis program on February 27, 2026. The agency now plans to send the Orion spacecraft into Earth orbit in 2027 as part of the Artemis III mission, where it will rendezvous and inspect one or both of the lunar landers currently under development. Following this, NASA hopes to conduct two lunar landing missions in 2028, utilizing whichever lander is ready for flight. These missions will be preceded by unmanned test lunar landings.

Currently, NASA is collaborating with SpaceX and Blue Origin to develop lunar landers capable of transporting crew to the lunar surface, supporting temporary habitation and work, and facilitating a return to lunar orbit. The OIG report focused primarily on SpaceX’s Starship lander, as it was initially slated for the first two lunar landings under the original Artemis program plan. However, with the program adjustments, NASA will now utilize whichever lander achieves readiness first.

SpaceX’s Starship HLS: A Complex Refueling Strategy

SpaceX’s lander is a variant of the Starship spacecraft, designed as the second stage of the SuperHeavy-Starship rocket. To reach the Moon, the approximately 51-meter-tall Starship-HLS will require refueling in orbit by approximately 10-20 Starship-tanker spaceships, launching roughly weekly from Florida, and Texas. This ambitious plan involves transferring significant volumes of propellant in orbit, a feat that has not yet been attempted. A key challenge is managing the continuous loss of cryogenic propellants due to heating and vaporization, and SpaceX’s plans for mitigating this loss remain undisclosed.

Once the orbital reservoir is full, the lander will replenish its propellants and ignite its engines for the journey to the Moon, where it will await the arrival of the Artemis crew in the Orion spacecraft.

Blue Origin’s Approach and Landing Risks

Blue Origin is pursuing a similar strategy of orbital refueling to enable lunar travel. After reaching lunar orbit, the tanker will refill the lander’s tanks before astronauts can descend to the lunar surface.

The OIG report indicates that the established crew loss threshold for the first two lunar landings was set at 1 in 40 for lunar activities and 1 in 30 overall. This compares favorably to the Apollo missions (1 in 10 risk) and the Space Shuttle program (1 in 70 risk).

Challenges in Lander Testing and Crew Survivability

Both landers will undergo rigorous testing in lunar orbit to verify operational readiness before carrying astronauts to the surface. The landing site at the Moon’s south pole presents unique challenges due to steep slopes of up to 20 degrees, which can complicate navigation and landing. The OIG notes that the Starship’s height (51 meters) creates a risk of overturning due to inertia after landing, exceeding NASA’s tilt tolerance requirement of 8 degrees.

Blue Origin’s 16-meter-tall Blue Moon lander also faces risks related to exceeding pitch tolerance, potentially affecting the operation of equipment used for crew egress and return. The Apollo lunar modules, which carried 12 astronauts to the lunar surface, were significantly smaller – half the height of Blue Origin’s lander and seven times the size of Starship.

Elevator System Concerns with Starship HLS

A specific concern identified by the OIG is the elevator system on the SpaceX Starship HLS, which will be used for crew descent from the lander to the lunar surface from a height equivalent to a 10-story building. Currently, there is no alternative method for crew egress in the event of an elevator malfunction. NASA requires a tolerance for catastrophic events, and while SpaceX is focused on building a robust elevator with redundant mechanisms, the HLS program considers the elevator the highest risk and is actively working with SpaceX to develop contingency plans.

Rescue Capabilities Remain a Critical Gap

As with the Apollo missions, NASA currently lacks the capability to rescue astronauts in the event of a life-threatening emergency in space or on the lunar surface. While NASA is working to mitigate and prevent hazards, this remains a significant risk factor for the Artemis program.

NASA’s Management of the Human Landing System Contracts (IG-26-004) report is available for further review.