Wow, Blue Origin has become the critical path for Artemis III, and NASA doesn’t look fully confident in them.
Isaacman just laid out the launch sequence for the first time: Blue Moon has to go up first, or NASA won’t launch SLS. Quote: “We’re not going to launch without Blue Origin in it,” and “You’re committed once SLS goes.”
Starship launches last for the docking demos.
NASA is also directly helping Blue catch up, embedding personnel, manufacturing some parts themselves, and sending hundreds of people to help with the pad and welding.
Without Blue Moon, Artemis III doesn’t fly.