Nasa’s Artemis III mission: why the Moon landing must wait
A mission focused on tests
Artemis III is planned to launch in summer 2027. Nasa has described it as the most complicated mission it has attempted, and says the flight will help prepare for Artemis IV.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket is due to carry its prototype Blue Moon lander into low Earth orbit, without astronauts. Orion will also enter Earth orbit, where its crew will spend two days checking the spacecraft. On flight day six, SpaceX’s Starship upper stage, known as “the Ship,” is scheduled to launch from Florida and join the tests.
Crew and return journey
The Artemis III crew will spend two weeks aboard Orion, longer than the nine days spent by the Artemis II team. Americans Andre Douglas and Frank Rubio are named as mission specialists.
After undocking, the crew is due to continue testing Orion and carry out science experiments before heading home. The return will test an upgraded heat shield as the capsule re-enters Earth’s atmosphere.
Why astronauts will not land
The Starship lander contracted to take astronauts to the lunar surface is not ready. Its plan also depends on in-orbit refuelling, which has not yet been demonstrated. A March 2026 US Government Accountability Office report found SpaceX had made “limited progress” on the technology. A first refuelling demonstration was optimistically scheduled for late 2026.
Key points
- Artemis III is planned for summer 2027 and will not land astronauts on the Moon.
- The flight is intended to test Orion and prototype landers in low Earth orbit.
- SpaceX’s Starship lander and in-orbit refuelling remain key readiness concerns.
- Artemis IV is targeted for 2028 and is expected to attempt a crewed lunar landing.