Image: NASA’s goal of sending astronauts back to the Moon is gaining momentum, but there is a twist that is affecting major players in space flight. By February 2026, the agency announced plans to extend the Artemis missions, adding an additional flight in 2027 and aiming for annual Moon landings thereafter. According to a Bloomberg report, SpaceX’s powerful Starship is playing a major role as the Human Landing System (HLS), potentially leading to lunar transportation and landing, while Boeing’s Space Launch System (SLS), once the main vehicle for deep space missions, faces a bleak future. This change, due to delay and cost problems, keeps Orion important but reevaluates the heavy lifting. “NASA is committed to using the SLS architecture at least through Artemis V as necessary to support HLS providers and their respective acceleration plans to return American astronauts to the Moon,” NASA Administrator Isaacman said in a statement provided by an agency spokesperson.
Starship has taken the lead in lunar landing
Starship plays an important role in NASA’s lunar plans. It began as the Human Landing System (HLS) to take astronauts from orbit to the surface. Now, it is being considered for additional tasks, such as sending the Orion spacecraft to the Moon, a role originally assigned to the SLS Block 1B upgrade. NASA’s announcement on February 27 set out standardized vehicle configurations to improve reliability. It also included a 2027 low-Earth orbit (LEO) test with Starship or a Blue Origin lander before the planned landing of Artemis IV in 2028. This adjustment accelerates the program in response to competition from China. Isaacman stressed the need for speed, saying, “With credible competition, we need to move faster.” Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya stressed the importance of aiming to fly the landing mission in the same Earth ascent configuration, with priority on the Block 1 configuration rather than risky changes.
boeing sls participation decreased
Boeing, manufacturer of the SLS core stage at its Michoud Assembly Facility, is now seeing its SLS ambitions scaled back. No longer carrying the Orion spacecraft into lunar orbit, the SLS now launches only into Earth orbit. These changes have reduced upgrades and production ramps for future SLS block upgrades. However, Boeing’s Steve Parker assured the public that “Boeing is a proud partner…our workforce and supply chain are prepared to meet increased production needs,” calling the SLS “the world’s most powerful rocket stage.”Orion may survive for the purposes of manned return vehicles, but propulsion limitations have exposed Starship’s reusability beyond the $4 billion SLS cost per mission.
Artemis’ future with SpaceX dominance
Artemis III transitions to LEO systems checks such as docking, life support, and xEVA suits, facilitating a seamless set of lunar hops. “Our team is up to the challenge … of enabling a more consistent cadence,” said Lori Glaze. As Artemis II’s launch approaches in April, following helium improvements, this new era of starships is poised for a rapid return to the Moon, marrying old technology with innovative vision for a lasting presence.