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NASA's plan for Artemis III calls for SpaceX and Blue Origin to compete in a 14-day mission slated for mid-2027 that will test which company's lunar lander performs better in low Earth orbit. Both companies will practice docking, habitation and operational procedures needed for the return to the Moon, which is planned for 2028. Smithsonian Magazine reported the plan, which is intended to prepare for the crewed lunar landing.