NASA says Artemis III is on track for 2027, with a summer launch targeted
The crew of four will stay in low Earth orbit and practice docking with test versions of Blue Origin's and SpaceX's lunar landers.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and other agency leaders gave an update on the Artemis program Friday at a Kennedy Space Center news conference. According to NASA, Artemis III will launch in 2027, and Aerospace America reported that officials said the mission is on track for a summer 2027 launch.
NASA says the mission's crew of four will stay in low Earth orbit and practice docking with test versions of the lunar landers being built by Blue Origin and SpaceX.
The agency said Artemis IV, the first Artemis mission planned to land on the Moon, is targeted for 2028.
Sources
- NASA, Oct. 23, 2026 www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/10/23/nasa-shares-artemis-acceleration-plans-for-moon-missions/
- NASA mission overview, Oct. 23, 2026 www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/nasas-artemis-iii-mission-to-test-future-moon-lander-operations/
- Aerospace America, Oct. 23, 2026 aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/nasa-eyeing-year-end-tanking-test-and-summer-2027-launch-for-artemis-iii/