Artemis III

Originally designated as Exploration Mission 3, this mission was tasked to start assembly of Lunar Gateway. However, after the Artemis Program was created in 2019 it was redesigned as the first crewed lunar landing since 1972. The new revised mission profile would land two astronauts on the south pole while the other two remained in Orion in Lunar Orbit. Originally supposed to launch in 2025, this timeline has been pushed to 2026, then 2027 and possibly 2028.

After the Ignition Event in late February 2025, the NASA Administrator announced a revised plan for Artemis III. Instead of a crewed lunar landing, Artemis III would serve as a docking demonstration in Low Earth Orbit similar to what Apollo 9 did. During that mission, Artemis III will dock with one or both lunar landers to validate docking and life support systems.

Artemis III will start with the launch of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket to deploy their lunar lander into Low Earth Orbit where it can remain for up to 90 days. Then four astronauts will board the SLS rocket where it will launch from the Kennedy Space Center. Once in orbit, Orion will dock with the Blue Origin lunar lander where they will remain docked for two days to conduct tests including the new spacesuits. While all this is happening, SpaceX's Starship will launch and get into orbit. After departing Blue Moon, Orion will dock with the Starship Human Landing System where they will remain docked for about a day to conduct tests. Then Orion will splash down in the Pacific Ocean just off the coast of San Diego.

Orion is going to be the first mission to test the updated heatshield after the Artemis I review.

The Core Stage arrived to the Kennedy Space Center in April 28, 2026. NASA announced in May 2026 that they will not use their last ICPS stage for Artemis III because it will remain in Low Earth Orbit. They plan to save that stage for Artemis IV. Artemis III will instead use a spacer with the same dimensions as the ICPS stage. June 2026, parts of the Solid Rocket Boosters started to arrive at the Kennedy Space Center. Early August, NASA started stacking the Solid Rocket Boosters with engine installation starting late August.

• 2019: Artemis III revised to crewed lunar landing
• February 26, 2026: Artemis III revised as LEO docking demonstration
• April 28, 2026: Core stage arrived to KSC
• June 2026: Solid rocket boosters arrived to KSC
• June 9, 2026: Artemis III crew announced
• August 2026: Solid rocket booster and engine installation starts