Blue Moon Pathfinder Mission 1
Blue Origin lunar lander test flight
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Blue Moon Pathfinder Mission 1 is a planned robotic lunar landing mission to be operated by Blue Origin, set to launch no earlier than early 2026.[3]
Rendering of a Blue Moon Mark 1 spacecraft on the Lunar surface | |
| Names | CLPS TO CT-3 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Lunar landing · Flight test |
| Operator | Blue Origin |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Blue Moon Mark 1 Endurance[1] (MK1-SN001) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | NET Q1 2026[2] |
| Rocket | New Glenn |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral, LC‑36 |
| Moon lander | |
| Landing site | South Pole |
Overview
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. SCALPSS consists of four cameras designed to capture high-resolution 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] 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][7] Similar SCALPSS payloads were previously flown aboard the IM-1 and Blue Ghost M1 CLPS missions.[8][9]
