Weird Solution for SpaceX Starship & Blue Origin to launch NASA Artemis 3 in 2027 Revealed

Returning humans to the Moon remains the defining space objective for the United States in this decade. As the world races toward the stars, NASA’s Artemis program is at the forefront, aiming to return astronauts to the lunar surface for the first time in over 50 years. Yet, the mission is facing a critical challenge: delays, technical setbacks, and growing doubts about whether its original timeline can be met.

With Artemis 3 targeting mid-2027 for the historic landing, a bold and unconventional proposal has surfaced—one that combines the efforts of SpaceX, Blue Origin, and ULA (United Launch Alliance) into a hybrid “Megazord” style mission architecture.

Could this strange yet strategic alliance be the key to keeping the Artemis mission on track? Let’s dive into this weird but potentially game-changing solution.

The Artemis 3 Dilemma: Delays and Doubts

As of mid-2025, we are less than two years away from the planned Artemis 3 launch. The mission depends heavily on SpaceX’s Starship Human Landing System (HLS), which, despite high expectations, continues to face multiple technical roadblocks.

Starship’s Progress: A Work in Progress

While Starship has completed nine test flights, key milestones remain unfulfilled:

It has not reached orbit successfully.
It has not demonstrated orbital refueling, a mission-critical function.
Safe re-entry and full stage recovery are still unproven.
Recent failures, such as the Ship 36 incident, have raised further concern.

For Artemis 3 to proceed, SpaceX must also complete an uncrewed demonstration landing on the Moon and successfully demonstrate on-orbit propellant transfer—none of which have been publicly shown to be in progress.

Blue Origin’s Blue Moon: Promising, But Incomplete

To reduce risk, NASA selected Blue Origin as a backup lander contractor, awarding a $3.4 billion contract. Blue Origin’s lander, Blue Moon, offers potential, but also faces its own hurdles:

It cannot fly directly to the Moon from Earth.
It relies on the New Glenn rocket, which has only flown once.
It requires a complex, multi-stage refueling strategy in orbit.

While Blue Origin’s Mark 1 prototype may fly soon, the Mark 2 crew-rated version is still in development. Like Starship, Blue Moon also operates on a tight deadline.

The Weird Solution: Combining Vehicles Like a Megazord

Amidst delays, a bold hybrid proposal has emerged—one that could solve the challenges plaguing both SpaceX and Blue Origin.

The Plan: Use the Best of Each System

The proposed combined mission architecture includes:

SpaceX’s Super Heavy booster for lift.
ULA’s Centaur V upper stage for transfer.
Blue Origin’s Blue Moon lander for lunar descent and return.

Imagine this like a Megazord, where each part brings a unique strength. Here’s how it would work:

Super Heavy launches from Earth with Centaur V and Blue Moon as its payload.
After booster separation, Centaur V ignites and places Blue Moon into a lunar transfer orbit.
Blue Moon then docks with NASA’s Orion spacecraft, launched separately by SLS.
Astronauts transfer to Blue Moon, descend, explore, then return to Orion for the journey home.

Benefits of the Combined Architecture

This collaborative strategy solves several major problems:

✅ Eliminates the Need for Orbital Refueling

Starship’s on-orbit refueling is a massive technical hurdle. This solution bypasses it entirely.

✅ Utilizes Proven Technology

Centaur V has flight heritage and reliability, reducing development risk.

✅ Leverages Super Heavy’s Power

With the upcoming V3 upgrade, Super Heavy will offer 9,240 tons of thrust—more than enough to lift Centaur and Blue Moon.

✅ Faster Timeline

No need to wait for full Starship system maturity. NASA can proceed with proven stages, accelerating the Artemis 3 timeline.

The Risks and Downsides

Of course, no solution is perfect. This collaborative mission introduces new layers of complexity.

⚠️ Integration Challenges

Super Heavy, Centaur V, and Blue Moon were never designed to be used together. Modifications, compatibility checks, and extensive testing will be needed.

⚠️ Schedule Dependency

If one contractor experiences a delay—say, ULA can’t finish Centaur V—the entire mission timeline could be pushed.

⚠️ Funding and Contract Intent

NASA originally awarded contracts for independent solutions. A combined architecture may raise legal and budgetary concerns about contract scope, accountability, and use of public funds.

⚠️ Starship’s Diminished Role

Excluding the Starship upper stage—the key to its deep-space vision—could impact SpaceX’s long-term strategy and brand reputation.

Why This Could Still Be the Right Move

Despite the risks, the combined solution might be NASA’s best option given current progress and looming deadlines.

Artemis 3 Needs to Launch by 2027

Further delays could cost the U.S. its lead in space exploration. China is developing its own lunar lander and just completed a Mango spacecraft pad abort test. Their official target is 2030, but insiders believe they could beat that.

National Collaboration Sets a Precedent

Imagine a mission that unites SpaceX, Blue Origin, ULA, and NASA—America’s best. This model could become a template for Mars exploration, deep-space mining, and beyond.

Blue Origin’s Fuel Transporter: A Secret Weapon

Blue Origin isn’t sitting idle. In May 2025, the company revealed a T-shaped fuel transporter designed to carry 100 metric tons of cryogenic fuel to lunar orbit.

Key Features Include:

Zero boil-off tech to store fuel at –253°C (hydrogen) and –183°C (oxygen).
Docking systems for mid-orbit refueling of Blue Moon.
Capability to adapt for Mars missions in the future.

This development indicates that Blue Origin is preparing for sustained lunar operations, not just a one-off mission.

SpaceX’s Florida Expansion: The Gigabay Project

Meanwhile, SpaceX has announced plans to launch Starship from Florida by late 2025 from LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center.

Highlights:

Gigabay Florida will house Starship/Super Heavy production.
It’ll offer 11× more space than current facilities.
SpaceX aims to support 44 Starship launches per year from this site.

Although the full Starship system may not fly Artemis 3, this buildout shows SpaceX’s long-term commitment to becoming the dominant launch provider.

What About Starship’s Future?

Will this combined architecture mean Starship is benched?

Not necessarily. Here’s why:

Starship can still be used for cargo, future crewed missions, or even a backup HLS.
By removing Starship’s pressure to meet 2027 goals, SpaceX can perfect the system at its own pace.
Once ready, Starship could handle larger crews, longer stays, and more cargo.

In fact, this may even protect Starship’s reputation by avoiding a rushed and risky deployment.

Underwater Tests and Astronaut Prep

NASA and Blue Origin recently conducted neutral buoyancy simulations with a full-size Blue Moon lander mockup. Divers in lunar suits tested:

Ingress and egress from the airlock
Cargo handling simulations
Emergency return drills

These are critical steps toward human certification and show that on-the-ground preparations are keeping pace with hardware development.

Conclusion: Is the Weird Solution the Right One?

The idea of merging Starship’s booster, Centaur V’s precision, and Blue Moon’s lunar capability might seem weird—but it may just be the pragmatic answer to an otherwise impossible deadline.

✅ It uses proven parts

✅ It eliminates risky steps like orbital refueling

✅ It leverages the best of each company

✅ It keeps Artemis 3 alive for 2027

The combined solution reflects the urgency of the moment and may signal a new phase of cooperation in space.

Final Thoughts: Collaboration Over Competition

As NASA, SpaceX, Blue Origin, and ULA race against time—and against China—the message is clear: collaboration is the future of space exploration.

While Artemis 3 may not look like the mission we originally envisioned, it might be the mission we need to get humans back to the Moon safely, efficiently, and on time.

What Do You Think?

Do you believe the Megazord-style mission will work?

Would you prefer waiting for full Starship capability, or is it smarter to combine systems now?

Drop your thoughts in the comments—and if you’re passionate about space exploration, subscribe for more deep dives on Artemis, Starship, and beyond.

FAQs

1. What is the Artemis 3 mission?

Artemis 3 is NASA’s planned mission to return humans to the Moon for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972. It’s the third mission in the Artemis program and aims to land astronauts near the lunar South Pole in 2027.

2. Why is Artemis 3 facing delays?

The mission relies on new technologies, especially SpaceX’s Starship Human Landing System (HLS). Starship must demonstrate orbital refueling, lunar landing, and reusability, which have proven challenging. Development delays, funding shifts, and regulatory hurdles have all contributed.

3. What is the “weird solution” being proposed?

The proposal involves combining SpaceX’s Super Heavy booster, ULA’s Centaur V upper stage, and Blue Origin’s Blue Moon lander into a hybrid mission profile—essentially creating a lunar mission using parts from multiple companies to avoid delays.

4. Why not just use Starship as originally planned?

While Starship has enormous potential, it hasn’t yet proven key mission elements like orbital refueling, safe re-entry, and crew safety systems. The weird solution bypasses these bottlenecks to keep Artemis 3 on schedule.

5. Has Blue Origin’s Blue Moon lander flown yet?

Not yet. Blue Origin is developing the Mark 1 uncrewed prototype, with plans for a crew-rated Mark 2 in time for Artemis 5. It has not flown to space but has undergone ground tests and astronaut training simulations.

6. How does the hybrid launch architecture work?

The idea is to launch Centaur V and Blue Moon together on Super Heavy, sending them into lunar transfer orbit. This avoids the need for orbital refueling and multiple Starship launches, simplifying the mission.

7. Why is ULA’s Centaur V important in this plan?

Centaur V is a powerful and efficient upper stage with deep-space capability, designed to work with ULA’s Vulcan rocket. Its reliability and precision make it a strong candidate to carry Blue Moon toward the Moon.

8. Will the Orion spacecraft still be used?

Yes. NASA’s Orion capsule, launched by the SLS (Space Launch System), will carry astronauts to lunar orbit. There, they’ll transfer to the Blue Moon lander for descent, then return to Orion for the trip back to Earth.

9. Could this combined approach become permanent?

It’s unlikely to be permanent but could bridge the gap until full Starship capability is realized. Long-term lunar exploration may still rely on Starship once it matures, especially for larger cargo or crewed missions.

10. Is China really catching up with its Moon plans?

Yes. China aims to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030, but recent tests suggest it could happen earlier. Their rapid development of lunar landers and crew capsules poses a serious challenge to U.S. leadership in space.

11. Has NASA approved this hybrid mission approach officially?

As of now, no official approval has been made public. The idea is speculative but gaining traction among space industry insiders as a realistic backup if Starship or Blue Moon development lags.

12. What’s the benefit of launching Starship from Florida?

Launching from Kennedy Space Center’s LC-39A enables more frequent flights, better infrastructure, and closer collaboration with NASA. SpaceX’s Gigabay Florida will also support high-volume Starship production.

13. Could this change how future Mars missions are planned?

Absolutely. If successful, this collaboration could set a precedent for modular, multi-company missions—a model that could be used for Mars, asteroid mining, or deep space colonization in the future.