Artemis VI (Artemis 6)

Mission at a glance

NASA schedule

NASA’s Artemis page, updated September 15, 2026, describes missions through Artemis V and gives no date or plan for Artemis VI.

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

Proposed crew transport

NASA’s FY2027 budget request proposes commercial services for all transportation after Artemis V, and $744 million for a commercial program that includes capabilities to launch and return crews for Artemis VI and beyond.

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

Procurement

NASA plans a new competitive procurement for commercial crew transportation beyond Artemis V. Companies may propose commercialized versions of SLS and Orion.

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

Landing cadence

For missions beyond Artemis V, NASA says it will use more commercially procured, reusable hardware, initially aiming for crewed landings every six months.

Source: NASA, “NASA Unveils Initiatives to Achieve America’s National Space Policy” (Mar 24, 2026)

Congress

The House Appropriations Committee advanced its FY2027 NASA funding bill on May 13, 2026. Its report bars NASA from moving funds away from SLS until a commercial alternative is proven, and says commercial services for Artemis VI and beyond must meet the same bar, including human-rating certification. The full House had not voted on the bill.

Source: The Planetary Society, “House Appropriators advance key NASA funding bill” (May 14, 2026)

Budget status

Congress had not passed any full-year FY2027 spending bill. A continuing resolution signed September 2, 2026 keeps NASA at its FY2026 level of $24.4 billion through December 11, 2026.

Source: SpacePolicyOnline, “House Clears FY2027 CR, Now to the President” (Sep 3, 2026)

Orion service module

ESA’s February 2021 order for three more European Service Modules covers Artemis IV, V and VI, so a service module for an Artemis VI Orion was ordered under the earlier plan.

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

What’s still unknown

• Whether Artemis VI flies on SLS and Orion or on commercial vehicles. That depends on Congress and on NASA’s planned procurement.
• A target date, crew, lander and mission objectives.
• Whether the European Service Module ordered for Artemis VI will fly.

Launch date and countdown

• SLS Block 1B | Artemis VI

  National Aeronautics and Space Administration • LC-39B

  Sep 29, 2030

  Time TBD

News about Artemis VI

• SLS picks up the pace, four vehicles in production

  NASASpaceflight • Aug 31, 2026

• NASA budget would cancel dozens of science missions, lay off thousands

  SpaceNews • May 30, 2025

• NASA Commits to Future Artemis Moon Rocket Production

  NASA • Dec 9, 2022