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NASA Artemis program
Artemis IV is now NASA’s planned first Artemis Moon landing. In February 2026 NASA turned Artemis III into a 2027 test flight in Earth orbit and moved the landing to Artemis IV, which it targets for early 2028. The crew would launch in Orion on the SLS rocket and transfer to a commercial lander from SpaceX or Blue Origin, whichever is ready, for a landing near the lunar south pole. NASA has not named the crew.
Planned first Artemis Moon landing. NASA made Artemis III a crewed test flight in low Earth orbit for mid-2027 and moved the first landing to Artemis IV.
Source: NASA, “NASA Strengthens Artemis: Adds Mission, Refines Overall Architecture” ()
NASA targets early 2028, with the landing near the lunar south pole.
Source: NASA, “NASA Strengthens Artemis: Adds Mission, Refines Overall Architecture” ()
NASA’s Artemis page, updated September 15, 2026, still targets 2028 for the first Artemis landing and says that date has held since mid-2025.
Source: NASA, “Artemis” ()
SLS and Orion launch the crew to an orbit where they meet a lander that is already in place, then transfer to it for the trip to the surface and back.
Source: NASA, “FY 2027 Budget Estimates” ()
After the surface stay the crew returns to Orion in lunar orbit and splashes down in the Pacific Ocean.
Source: NASA, “NASA Strengthens Artemis: Adds Mission, Refines Overall Architecture” ()
Not announced. NASA says it will share crew assignments later.
Source: NASA, “NASA Strengthens Artemis: Adds Mission, Refines Overall Architecture” ()
Not yet chosen. NASA says lander readiness will decide whether SpaceX or Blue Origin carries the crew to the surface.
Source: NASA, “NASA Strengthens Artemis: Adds Mission, Refines Overall Architecture” ()
NASA’s Inspector General found that SpaceX’s lander will not be ready for a June 2027 landing (the date under the earlier plan), and that it was too early to judge the technical, cost and schedule effects of both companies’ proposals to speed up their landers for 2028.
The FY2027 budget request asks for $2.277 billion for the Human Landing System program to accelerate development of Artemis IV in 2028, including $200 million for a Mars lander demonstration.
Source: NASA, “Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request (summary)” ()
The Inspector General reported that Axiom Space is planning for lunar suit demonstration readiness in late 2027, and that demonstrations would not happen until 2031 if testing follows historical averages.
A standardized SLS. NASA is no longer planning to use the Exploration Upper Stage or Mobile Launcher 2, citing development delays.
Source: NASA, “NASA Strengthens Artemis: Adds Mission, Refines Overall Architecture” ()
Artemis IV is to fly the last Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS). In April 2026 NASA chose to fly a structural spacer in its place on Artemis III and keep the final ICPS for Artemis IV. ULA’s Centaur V upper stage is planned to start with Artemis V.
In March 2026, NASA contract documents described ULA’s Centaur V as the SLS upper stage starting with Artemis IV.
The 130-foot liquid hydrogen tank for the Artemis IV core stage was moved to a test building at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans on May 15, 2026.
Source: NASA, “Crews Move Artemis IV Liquid Hydrogen Tank” ()
ESA’s fourth European Service Module, which gives Orion thrust, power, temperature control, air and water, is at Kennedy Space Center for Artemis IV and has been connected to the crew module adapter (photo taken July 31, 2026).
Source: ESA, “Moon-bound powerhouse” ()
Not part of the current plan. NASA said on March 24, 2026 that it intends to pause the Gateway lunar station “in its current form” and focus on infrastructure for the lunar surface.
Source: NASA, “NASA Unveils Initiatives to Achieve America’s National Space Policy” ()
NASA’s 2024 description had Artemis IV as the first crewed visit to Gateway: the debut of the larger SLS Block 1B, delivery of ESA’s I-Hab module, and two astronauts landing in SpaceX’s Starship for about six days. NASA has since added a note that it is updating the page.
Source: NASA, “NASA’s Artemis IV: Building First Lunar Space Station” ()
National Aeronautics and Space Administration • Space Launch System Block 1B • LC-39B
National Aeronautics and Space Administration • LC-39B
SpacePolicyOnline.com • Oct 23, 2026
Arstechnica • Sep 2, 2026
NASA • Jul 23, 2026
Spaceflight Now • Jun 26, 2026
SpaceDaily • Feb 13, 2026
NASA • Feb 11, 2026