Jeremy Parsons
ON THE RECORD · 10 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“Everything we do on Artemis III is designed to reduce risk for our future lunar landing missions,”
Jeremy Parsons · said 2026-10-23 · reported 2026-10-23
Parsons described how Artemis III serves as a risk-reduction stepping stone toward future lunar landing missions.
“We're launching three of the most powerful rockets in the world, and undertaking what is likely the most complicated launch campaign ever undertaken,”
Jeremy Parsons · said 2026-10-23 · reported 2026-10-23
Parsons described the complexity of the Artemis III launch campaign during a press conference at Kennedy Space Center.
“Over the next two days, the crew will conduct operations docked with Blue Moon,”
Jeremy Parsons · said 2026-10-23 · reported 2026-10-23
Parsons described crew operations after Orion rendezvous with the Blue Moon lander on Flight Day 3.
“We're teaching these teams how to work together, how to make critical real-time mission decisions, all in an environment that is low Earth orbit, where if something goes wrong, we can come home much more quickly.”
Jeremy Parsons · said 2026-10-23 · reported 2026-10-23
Parsons emphasized that conducting the mission in low Earth orbit allows a quicker return if something goes wrong.
“Orion was built as a deep-space vehicle, and so we're going to have to really manage the thermal environments, which are higher in a low Earth orbit.”
Jeremy Parsons · said 2026-10-23 · reported 2026-10-23
Parsons explained why thermal management is critical for Orion, a deep-space vehicle, in low Earth orbit.
“The crew will not enter the Starship during the mission, but it gives us critical data and allows us to really understand the forces of docking, how we're going to push, how we're going to work together.”
Jeremy Parsons · said 2026-10-23 · reported 2026-10-23
Parsons explained that the Starship docking demonstration will provide critical data even though the crew will not enter the vehicle.
“The demonstration with Starship is shorter, about two hours,”
Jeremy Parsons · said 2026-10-23 · reported 2026-10-23
Parsons contrasted the brief Starship docking demonstration with the longer Blue Moon operations.
“That's really about getting thermal stability,”
Jeremy Parsons · said 2026-10-23 · reported 2026-10-23
Parsons explained the rationale for Orion's highly elliptical orbit after SLS deployment.
“They're going to open up the hatch. They're going to enter the lander. They're going to evaluate the environmental controls, the life support systems. We'll confirm that the spacecraft can maintain the right atmospheric pressure, and we're also going to test emergency scenarios, dual vehicle control, and we're going to put our Mission Control teams through their paces.”
Jeremy Parsons · said 2026-10-23 · reported 2026-10-23
Parsons detailed the checkout procedures the Artemis III crew will perform inside the Blue Moon lander.
“Regardless of who goes first, both providers are planning for lunar landing missions in 2028,”
Jeremy Parsons · said 2026-10-23 · reported 2026-10-23
Parsons noted that both Blue Origin and SpaceX are planning lunar landing missions in 2028 regardless of which flies first.