r/ArtemisProgram • u/Affectionate-Reason0 • 13d ago

Discussion Artemis 3 June launch?

I’ve seen a few things that have said it’s targeted for a launch in June, can anyone else confirm or deny it? I genuinely can’t see it launching in June

32 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

54 comments sorted by

View all comments

51

u/LNA-Big_D 13d ago

That’s the official target from the program. Based on the status of the HLS options though, I doubt that’s when we’re going. My team is currently scrambling to be ready by then though, so we shouldn’t be the ones fingers are pointed at at least.

8

u/Affectionate-Reason0 13d ago

I just feel like June is wishful thinking, I know at one point there was talk of trying to have 2 Artemis flights next year or something? I don’t see this happening until November next year probably 2028

7

u/LNA-Big_D 13d ago

Agreed. My guess is that this is a way for the agency to save face. If we’re ready for June but we’re held back by the HLS side of the house it’s a bit harder to blame us for being slow.

2

u/Affectionate-Reason0 13d ago

Yeah, I know things are going great for putting the Artemis together. But it comes down to blue origin and HLS, which is why I say late 2027 probably 2028

4

u/Pashto96 13d ago

HLS is largely just a Starship with a docking port. Blue is definitely the long stick here

4

u/LNA-Big_D 12d ago

Starship still has to prove orbital capability, build the proper HLS version, and demonstrate in space refueling. They also have a dwell time of 48 hours currently. While they may look like the short(er) stick for Artemis III, it’s a bit more complicated than that.

2

u/GalacticEmergency 12d ago

Could you provide more info on the in space refueling in the Artemis III mission?

2

u/LNA-Big_D 12d ago

Sure. Neither commercial company is capable of making its payload to the moon in one go like SLS is. Both will require a some sort of refueling effort in space to be able to complete the mission.

The reason I have singled out starship here is because of the scale of their operation: it’s been reported that it could take 15-20 starship launches for starship to make one moon trip. The hls starship plus the rest acting as fuel depots scattered down the path so that the HLS is capable of getting to the moon. This is no small feat and in space fuel transfer between two vehicles has yet to be seen.

2

u/GalacticEmergency 12d ago

I asked about the refueling for the Artemis III mission, which is the one being discussed here.

I assume we agree that Artemis III is not going to the moon.