NASA’s Moon ship and rocket seem to be working well, so what about the landers?

arse: : I would now like to ask what achievements we should focus on this year. I think with Starship it will be an in-flight refueling test. Is that potentially going to happen this year too? I mean, I’m looking at my calendar and it’s already spring.

glazing: I hope so. I believe that is still the plan. I think they changed their schedule a bit. This is something you’ll probably have to go back and talk to SpaceX about and find out what their schedule is right now.

arse: : They are going to come far ahead.

glazing: Yeah I know. But they’re making some adjustments to their schedule based on trying to make sure they have a little more confidence in what they’re going to fly before they do the prop demo. So it is advisable to interact with them or at least try. But yes, I believe the prop transfer is still on schedule for this year, for later this year, and that’s certainly one of the key milestones that we’re keeping an eye on. And, of course, the unmanned demo on the Moon.

arse: : Presumably that won’t happen until after Artemis III?

glazing: Yes, agree.

arse: : And with Blue Moon Mk. 1, which is launching sometime this year. You know, possibly within a few months?

glazing: I think it will launch this year.

arse: : I hope so. What should we look for on that flight as it relates to HLS?

glazing: I think some of their propulsion systems are going to be advances in guidance, navigation and control. His landing ability will be important. We all know it is not as easy as one might think. So it will be important, just to see how all the systems perform in the lunar environment.

arse: : Have companies shown more enthusiasm towards implementing HLS in the last few months?

glazing:Yes, actually, I’m glad you asked. Because I think we’ve really seen them—they’re taking it very seriously. Our request to try and pull things off to try and meet the mandate to land on the surface in 2028, I think we’ve seen a real commitment from both Blue and SpaceX to try to do that, yes, a real commitment to see what they can do to try and pull it off.