NASA has revealed a major update to its Moon landing program with the selection of a new lunar lander. Blue Origin’s Blue Moon has been chosen as the second certified Human Landing System for the Artemis program.

The out-and-back trip could blast off as early as February. The 322-foot (98-meter) rocket began its 1 mph (1.6 kph) creep from Kennedy Space Center’s Vehicle Assembly Building at daybreak. The four-mile (six-kilometer) trek could take until nightfall.

NASA approaches the next phase of its deep space return program. Artemis 2 will be the first crewed mission to the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972 and will serve as a critical test for new technologies.

NASA announced that the earliest launch window for Artemis II is Feb. 6, 2026, with 12 more possible dates available from February-April. The Artemis mission, a followup to the Apollo program, hopes to have astronauts back on the moon’s surface by 2027.

NASA has launched the Mars to Table Challenge, seeking Earth-independent food systems capable of sustaining astronauts on long-duration Moon and Mars missions.

President Donald Trump is expected to sign the legislation, H.R. 6938, that would provide NASA with a $24.4 billion budget for fiscal year 2026.