Artemis VII (Artemis 7)

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 VII.

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

Pressurized rover

In November 2024 NASA said a SpaceX Starship cargo lander would deliver JAXA’s pressurized rover to the Moon no earlier than fiscal year 2032, in support of Artemis VII and later missions. That statement predates the February 2026 renumbering.

Source: NASA, “NASA Plans to Assign Missions for Two Future Artemis Cargo Landers” (Nov 19, 2024)

Rover agreement

Under an April 2024 agreement, Japan provides the pressurized rover, which lets astronauts travel on the Moon without spacesuits, and two Japanese astronauts get opportunities to land on the lunar surface.

Source: JAXA, “NASA and Japanese Government sign the Implementing Arrangement concerning Lunar Surface Exploration using the Pressurized Rover” (Apr 11, 2024)

Rover status

JAXA is developing the pressurized rover with NASA. NASA’s FY2027 plan includes the joint NASA–JAXA preliminary design review for it.

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

Moon base role

NASA’s March 2026 Moon base plan names JAXA’s pressurized rover as a major international contribution to its second phase, early infrastructure for recurring crew visits.

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

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)

What’s still unknown

• Whether NASA still ties the pressurized rover delivery to Artemis VII after renumbering its missions in February 2026.
• A target date, crew, lander and launch vehicle.
• Whether crews will travel on SLS and Orion or on commercial vehicles. NASA’s budget request proposes commercial transport after Artemis V; Congress has not settled it.

Launch date and countdown

• SLS Block 1B | Artemis VII

  National Aeronautics and Space Administration • LC-39B

  Sep 29, 2031

  Time TBD

News about Artemis VII

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

  SpaceNews • May 30, 2025