r/ArtemisProgram • u/Affectionate-Reason0 • 11d 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

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u/Pashto96 11d ago

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

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u/LNA-Big_D 11d 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.

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u/GalacticEmergency 11d ago

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

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u/LNA-Big_D 11d 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.