This Week in Space 208: Lander, Lander, Who's Got a Lander

This Week in Space 208: Lander, Lander, Who's Got a Lander

From All TWiT.tv Shows (Audio) by TWiT

May 1, 2026 · 1h 6m

About this episode

This episode discusses the competition between SpaceX and Blue Origin to land astronauts on the Moon as part of NASA's Artemis program.

Lander, lander... who's got a lander? With NASA planning orbital tests of the Artemis landers in 2027 and a crewed landing in 2028, the pressure is on for SpaceX and Blue Origin to make good on their Human Landing System contracts. Who's actually going to put American astronauts back on the Moon first? This week's episode digs into the high-stakes race between the companies, surfacing new details and doubts about whether either lander will be ready in time. Both have to fly into Earth orbit, refuel multiple times, and perform robotic test landings on the moon (in addition to the Artemis III rendezvous and docking tests) before NASA can land astronauts on the moon — and they need to get it all done by 2028. We talk to Space.com's senior space guy, Mike Wall, about the risks and realities of the new space race to the moon. Headlines: Artemis 2 Astronauts Tour White House and Late Night Shows Private Company Plans Asteroid Rendezvous with Apophis NASA's Artemis Moon Lander Readiness and Delays Main Topic: Lunar Landers and Artemis Program Artemis 4 Moon Landing Delays and Timeline Uncertainty SpaceX Starship vs. Blue Origin Blue Moon: Designs and Progress Technical Hurdles: Life…

People in this episode

Guest: Mike Wall

Topics covered

  • Lunar Landers
  • Artemis Program
  • Space Race
  • NASA Contracts
  • Space Exploration
  • Technical Hurdles

Keywords

  • NASA
  • SpaceX
  • Blue Origin
  • Artemis
  • Lunar Landers
  • Moon Landing
  • Space Exploration
  • Technical Hurdles
  • Mike Wall

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: NASA, SpaceX, Blue Origin

Products: Starship, Blue Moon

Places: Moon, Earth, China

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