NASA Repurposes Artemis III for 2027 Docking Rehearsal as SpaceX Lander Delays Push Moon Landing to 2028
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 9
NASA Repurposes Artemis III for 2027 Docking Rehearsal as SpaceX Lander Delays Push Moon Landing to 2028
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 9
Summary
Four astronauts named for Artemis III will fly in Orion to low Earth orbit in 2027, where they will dock with prototype lunar landers instead of attempting NASA’s first crewed Moon landing since 1972.
NASA changed the mission in February after SpaceX’s Starship lunar lander fell behind and its required in-orbit refuelling remained unproven; a March GAO report said progress on that technology was limited.
At roughly 290 miles above Earth, the crew will rehearse hatch operations, life-support links and Axiom’s new lunar spacesuits, while Orion’s return will also test an upgraded heat shield.
That shift makes Artemis IV, targeted for 2028, the new first landing attempt at the Moon’s south pole, with Artemis V later in 2028 planned to use Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mk2 lander.
The revised timeline still underpins NASA’s broader Moon-base plan, but doubts are growing as lander development lags and Blue Origin’s only New Glenn pad was badly damaged in a 28 May explosion.
With NASA's delays, could China's astronauts be the next to walk on the Moon?
Is SpaceX's ambitious Starship the biggest roadblock to America's return to the Moon?
As orbital debris worsens, is the new Moon race creating a new danger overhead?
Artemis III’s 2027 Mission: From Moon Landing to Low Earth Orbit Docking Rehearsal Due to HLS Delays
Overview
NASA has shifted the Artemis III mission, originally planned as a crewed lunar landing, to a critical low Earth orbit (LEO) docking rehearsal set for late 2027. This change reflects a methodical, step-by-step approach that prioritizes system reliability and crew safety, aiming to reduce unnecessary risks by ensuring each mission builds meaningfully on the last. The mission will use a modified Space Launch System with a specially designed spacer instead of the upper stage, focusing operations within Earth's orbit rather than heading directly to the Moon. This foundational rehearsal will help validate procedures and hardware before future lunar landings.