NASA Raises 212-Foot Artemis 3 Core Stage for Late-2027 Test Flight
Updated
Updated · Space.com · May 11
NASA Raises 212-Foot Artemis 3 Core Stage for Late-2027 Test Flight
4 articles · Updated · Space.com · May 11
NASA technicians lifted the 212-foot Artemis 3 SLS core stage upright into High Bay 2 at Kennedy Space Center’s Vehicle Assembly Building, starting assembly for the mission targeted for late 2027.
The stage will next be joined to its four RS-25 engines, then moved to High Bay 3 for stacking with the rest of the rocket, twin boosters and the Orion spacecraft.
Artemis 3 has been recast from a crewed lunar landing into an Earth-orbit test mission after delays to SpaceX’s Starship and Blue Origin’s Blue Moon landers.
That flight is meant to rehearse rendezvous and docking with one or both landers; if at least one is ready and also proves an uncrewed moon landing, NASA aims for Artemis 4 in 2028 to attempt the first crewed lunar return.
With NASA simplifying its rocket for speed, what new risks does this create for its ambitious goal of a permanent moon base?
Auditors reveal NASA cannot rescue astronauts from the moon. How will this critical safety gap be closed before the 2028 landing?
As private lander delays stall the moon landing, is NASA's new plan a genuine fix or just a rebranding of the schedule?
Artemis III Update: NASA’s 2026 Core Stage Rollout, 2027 Mission Redesign, and Implications for Lunar Return
Overview
In April 2026, NASA achieved a major milestone by rolling out and assembling the Artemis III Space Launch System core stage at Kennedy Space Center, after transporting it with the Pegasus barge. This accomplishment reflects extensive engineering efforts and improved production processes, making rocket assembly faster and more coordinated. The core stage will provide the powerful thrust needed to send astronauts aboard Orion toward the Moon, bringing NASA and its partners closer to landing the first woman and next man on the lunar surface. This progress paves the way for a sustained lunar presence and future missions to Mars.