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Propulsion & Power

Blue Moon propulsion assembled ahead of cryogenic test

By SpaceEnergy 04 August 2026 1 min read
Blue Moon propulsion assembled ahead of cryogenic test
A rendering of Blue Origin’s Blue Moon lander that will return astronauts to the Moon as part of NASA’s Artemis program. Source: Blue Origin

(SpaceEnergy) Blue Origin has fully assembled the propulsion elements of its Blue Moon Mark 1 lunar lander, with cryogenic propellant loading planned as one of its final pre-launch integration tests.

NASA said the Blue Moon Mark 1 (MK1) structure, propulsion elements and avionics are now fully assembled as the Endurance lander progresses through integrated testing for its first lunar delivery.

The spacecraft has already completed an environmental test campaign that included thermal-vacuum testing at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. Upcoming work will include checks of wiring-harness connections required for payload integration.

Cryogenic propellants are then planned to be loaded into the lander in one of the final tests before launch integration, NASA said. The announcement does not identify the propellants in its description of this test.

Endurance is intended to demonstrate precision landing and autonomous systems and characterise the lunar environment.

The same NASA update said Intuitive Machines is approaching the final development stages of its IM-3 Nova-C lander, including engine integration and hot-fire testing, providing another propulsion milestone within NASA's expanding commercial lunar-lander programme.

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