NASA Stacks Artemis III Hardware for 2027 Launch as Orion Heat Shield Installation Ends
Updated
Updated · Space.com · Jul 15
NASA Stacks Artemis III Hardware for 2027 Launch as Orion Heat Shield Installation Ends
2 articles · Updated · Space.com · Jul 15
Summary
NASA has moved Artemis III into a faster preparation phase for a mid-to-late 2027 launch, with Kennedy Space Center teams now assembling major Space Launch System hardware and running routine launch-control simulations.
At KSC, the SLS core stage has been joined to its engine block, two of four RS-25 engines have arrived, and the bottom segments of both solid rocket boosters were mounted on the mobile launch platform last week.
Inside the Operations and Checkout Building, engineers finished installing Orion's upgraded heat shield and completed acoustic testing on its service module, putting both elements on track to be joined before stacking in the VAB.
Monthly simulations are now rehearsing propellant loading, terminal count and launch-day procedures, reflecting NASA's push after Artemis II's successful crewed lunar flyby in April.
Artemis III will carry four astronauts into low Earth orbit to dock with SpaceX's Starship and Blue Origin's Blue Moon, while NASA is already advancing Artemis IV hardware for a planned 2028 lunar landing.
With both lander partners facing delays, can NASA still achieve its 2028 moon landing goal?
Why did NASA's moon landing mission become a multi-billion dollar practice run in Earth orbit?
Artemis III in 2027: NASA’s LEO Demonstration to Validate Lunar Lander Systems and Prepare for Artemis IV
Overview
Artemis III has shifted from aiming for a lunar landing to becoming a key demonstration mission in Low Earth Orbit. This new focus allows NASA to test and validate critical systems and operations close to Earth, reducing risks before attempting more complex lunar missions. During this mission, astronauts may enter a lander test article to check components meant for future Moon landings in a controlled setting. The mission will also test an upgraded heat shield during re-entry, helping NASA address important technical challenges and prepare for the next steps in lunar exploration.