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Blue Moon Pathfinder Mission 1

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Blue Moon Pathfinder Mission 1
Endurance during environmental testing at Johnson Space Center
NamesCLPS TO CT-3
Mission typeLunar landing flight test
OperatorBlue Origin
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftBlue Moon MK1-101 Endurance[1]
Start of mission
Launch dateNET Q1 2027[2]
RocketNew Glenn
Launch siteCape Canaveral, LC‑36
Moon lander
Landing siteSouth Pole

Blue Moon Pathfinder Mission 1 is a robotic lunar landing mission planned for launch in 2027. The spacecraft is to be built and operated by Blue Origin as part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program.[3]

Overview

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As a flight test of a prototype Blue Moon Mark 1 lander, the mission will demonstrate critical systems, including the BE-7 engine, cryogenic fluid power and propulsion systems, avionics, continuous downlink communications, and precision landing with an accuracy within 100 meters (330 ft). Validating these technologies is essential for supporting future Human Landing System missions under NASA's Artemis program, which will utilize the larger Blue Moon Mark 2 lander.[4]

Blue Origin also plans to offer future Blue Moon Mark 1 missions to commercial, governmental, and institutional customers seeking lunar payload delivery.[4] The Pathfinder mission is partially funded by NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, under which Blue Origin was awarded US$6.1 million in July 2024 to transport the Stereo Cameras for Lunar Plume Surface Studies (SCALPSS) payload.

Payloads

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  • SCALPSS: The Stereo Cameras for Lunar Plume-Surface Studies (SCALPSS), by the Langley Research Center, are an array of four high-resolution cameras for collecting imagery of how the plume from the lander's high-thrust BE-7 engine interacts with the lunar surface during and after descent.[5][6] Similar SCALPSS payloads were flown aboard the IM-1 and Blue Ghost Mission 1 CLPS missions.[7][8] The data gathered will help scientists better understand the effects of rocket exhaust on the Moon's regolith, providing valuable insights for future Artemis missions.[5][9]
  • LRA: The Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA), by the Goddard Space Flight Center, is an array of eight retroreflectors to determine the spacecraft's precise location and distance to the Earth by the reflection of laser light from orbiting spacecraft.[10]

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ Blue Origin [@blueorigin] (January 20, 2026). "Blue Moon MK1 left for the port today ahead of shipment to Houston. Introducing Endurance. Named for Ernest Shackleton's legendary ship that journeyed to Earth's South Pole, MK1 honors resilience under pressure. That same spirit of perseverance guides our mission to the lunar South Pole" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).,
  2. ↑ Jeff Foust [@jeff_foust] (July 6, 2026). "A few notes from a presentation by Blue Origin's John Couluris this afternoon at the Spacetide conference" (Tweet). Retrieved July 19, 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  3. ↑ https://www.nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7189/
  4. 1 2 "Blue Moon Mark 1 Lunar Lander". Blue Origin. Retrieved March 13, 2025. The Pathfinder Mission (MK1-SN001) will be a demonstration mission, with MK1-SN002 and beyond available to payload customers. MK1-SN001 proves out critical systems, including the BE-7 engine, cryogenic fluid power and propulsions systems, avionics, continuous downlink communications, and precision landing within 100 m site accuracy, prior to the uncrewed NASA Human Landing System mission for the Artemis program.
  5. 1 2 "Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) JEFO for Task Order CT-3". System for Award Management. U.S. General Services Administration. July 24, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  6. ↑ Luinstra, Martijn (January 26, 2025). "NASA's CLPS program accelerates as two landers head for the Moon". NASASpaceflight. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  7. ↑ Foust, Jeff (August 12, 2024). "NASA payload to fly on first Blue Origin lunar lander mission". SpaceNews. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  8. ↑ Atkinson, Joe (March 13, 2025). "NASA Cameras on Blue Ghost Capture First-of-its-Kind Moon Landing Footage". NASA. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
  9. ↑ Dooren, Jennifer M. (February 23, 2024). "NASA Tech Contributes to Soft Moon Landing, Agency Science Underway". NASA. Retrieved February 25, 2024. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  10. ↑ "CT-3 Science - NASA CLPS". August 1, 2025. Retrieved August 25, 2026.
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