On September 30, 2026 NASA announced that Blue Origin’s New Glenn 9×4 rocket has been added to its Launch Services II contract, expanding the agency’s fleet of heavy-lift launch vehicles. The same day, NASA revealed that the twin solid-rocket boosters for the Artemis III Space Launch System (SLS) were capped with nose cones at the Vehicle Assembly Building in Florida, bringing the rocket closer to launch readiness.

Key points

• New Glenn 9×4 added to NASA’s launch-services contract for missions up to June 2030.
• Artemis III SLS boosters fully stacked and capped with nose cones.
• Artemis III will carry a crew of four to test human landing system pathfinders from Blue Moon and Starship.
• NASA’s PRISM program selected three new lunar experiments to support a future Moon Base.
• SpaceX Crew-13 is scheduled to launch on October 1, 2026, to join Expedition 75 on the ISS.

Details

NASA’s addition of the New Glenn 9×4 to its launch-services fleet means the agency will have another powerful heavy-lift vehicle available for future missions, including potential lunar and Mars missions. The New Glenn, owned by Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, will be used for missions up to June 2030 under the NASA Launch Services II contract.

Meanwhile, the Artemis III SLS, the only rocket currently proven capable of delivering humans to the lunar vicinity, is nearly ready. The twin 170-foot solid-rocket boosters were capped with nose cones at the Vehicle Assembly Building on September 30, 2026. The SLS will carry a crew of four to test human landing system pathfinders built by Blue Moon (Blue Origin) and Starship (SpaceX). The core stage of the SLS is expected to be integrated soon ahead of the mission next year.

In parallel, NASA’s PRISM program has selected three new scientific experiments—Lunar Environment Monitoring Station – South Pole (LEMS-SP), Geophysical Investigation for Mapping Lunar Interior (GIMLI), and Depth Imager with Spectral and Color Optics (DISCO)—to be conducted on the Moon. These experiments will help future mission planners identify resources and safety precautions for a lunar outpost.

What it means for students

• Students interested in space science or engineering should note that NASA’s expanded launch fleet and Artemis III preparations highlight growing opportunities in aerospace careers.
• Those studying physics, astronomy, or related fields can follow NASA’s PRISM experiments for potential research projects or internships.
• For students planning to apply to space-related scholarships or internships, keep an eye on NASA’s career portal for upcoming openings linked to the Artemis program.
• Important dates: New Glenn addition announced September 29, 2026; Artemis III booster status update September 30, 2026; Crew-13 launch scheduled October 1, 2026.
• Official NASA website (www.nasa.gov) provides detailed information on contracts, launch schedules, and career opportunities.

Source: Starlust. Written for students by the Isolated Study News Desk from public reports. Always check the official website for final dates and details.