Artemis V (Artemis 5)

Mission at a glance

Mission role

A lunar surface mission after Artemis IV. NASA says Artemis V is when it expects to begin building its Moon base.

Source: NASA, “NASA Strengthens Artemis: Adds Mission, Refines Overall Architecture” (Mar 3, 2026)

Target date

By late 2028, with missions about once a year after that.

Source: NASA, “NASA Strengthens Artemis: Adds Mission, Refines Overall Architecture” (Mar 3, 2026)

Latest NASA schedule

NASA’s Artemis page, updated September 15, 2026, says it anticipates launching Artemis V in 2028 and flying one mission per year after it.

Source: NASA, “Artemis” (Sep 15, 2026)

Mission plan

As on Artemis IV, 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” (April 2026)

Crew

Not announced. NASA says it will share crew assignments later.

Source: NASA, “NASA Strengthens Artemis: Adds Mission, Refines Overall Architecture” (Mar 3, 2026)

Rocket

The standardized SLS configuration.

Source: NASA, “NASA Strengthens Artemis: Adds Mission, Refines Overall Architecture” (Mar 3, 2026)

Upper stage

Artemis V is planned to be the first SLS flight with ULA’s Centaur V upper stage, replacing the ICPS used on earlier flights.

Source: Aerospace America (AIAA), “Inside NASA Marshall’s progress on Artemis III hardware, plans for new SLS upper stage” (Aug 24, 2026)

Last SLS and Orion flight (proposed)

The FY2027 budget request funds SLS and Orion through Artemis V and proposes commercial services for all transportation after it.

Source: NASA, “Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request (summary)” (April 2026)

Lander (as contracted)

Blue Origin’s Blue Moon. NASA’s Inspector General noted in March 2026 that the lander contracts still use the earlier mission numbering, which assigns SpaceX’s Starship to Artemis III and IV and Blue Moon to Artemis V.

Source: NASA Office of Inspector General, “NASA’s Management of the Human Landing System Contracts (IG-26-004)” (Mar 10, 2026)

Orion service module

ESA ordered three more European Service Modules from Airbus in February 2021 for Artemis IV, V and VI.

Source: ESA, “Three more service modules for Artemis to be built in Europe” (Feb 2, 2021)

Gateway

NASA’s FY2027 budget requests no discretionary funding for Gateway and says the program will be transitioned to support a lunar base camp, with key hardware repurposed.

Source: NASA, “FY 2027 Budget Estimates” (April 2026)

Earlier schedule

Before the 2026 changes, Artemis V was to be the first crewed flight of Blue Origin’s lander, and in December 2024 NASA had set it for no later than March 2030.

Source: NASA Office of Inspector General, “NASA’s Management of the Human Landing System Contracts (IG-26-004)” (Mar 10, 2026)

What’s still unknown

• Which lander will fly under the 2026 plan. The existing contract names Blue Origin’s Blue Moon.
• Who the crew will be.
• A specific launch date. NASA’s target is late 2028, the same year as the Artemis IV landing.
• What Moon base hardware the mission will deliver or use.

Launch date and countdown

• SLS Block 1B | Artemis V

  National Aeronautics and Space Administration • LC-39B

  Dec 30, 2028

  Time TBD

News about Artemis V

• NASA Selects Blue Origin as Second Artemis Lunar Lander Provider

  NASA • May 19, 2023

• NASA to Select Second Lunar Lander Partner for Artemis Moon Mission

  NASA • May 16, 2023

• NASA Artemis Update: SLS Stacking, Sortie Suit, Dual 2028 Paths

  NASASpaceflight • Oct 24, 2026

• NASA updates lander plans for Moon landings, finally solves long-festering Orion issue

  Arstechnica • Oct 23, 2026

• NASA is Full Steam Ahead on Artemis III, IV and V

  SpacePolicyOnline.com • Oct 23, 2026

• NASA, Partners Accelerate Lander Development for 2028 Moon Missions

  NASA • Oct 23, 2026