Updated September 27, 2026. Artemis is NASA’s campaign to return astronauts to the Moon and develop sustained lunar exploration with commercial and international partners. Its flight sequence changed in 2026: Artemis III is now an Earth-orbit lander test, and Artemis IV targets the first crewed lunar landing in this sequence. Launch dates are planning targets, not guarantees.
The mission sequence
Artemis I — completed in 2022. The uncrewed Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft flew around the Moon and returned to Earth. The flight tested the systems needed before putting astronauts aboard Orion.
Artemis II — completed in April 2026. Four astronauts flew around the Moon aboard Orion. The mission tested life support, navigation and crew operations on a lunar trajectory.
Artemis III — targeted for 2027. NASA now plans to test Orion rendezvous and docking with commercial lunar lander test articles in low Earth orbit. It is not the first crewed lunar landing. The test should help validate interfaces and operations before a surface mission.
Artemis IV — targeted for 2028. This is now the planned first Artemis crewed landing near the lunar south pole. NASA expects four astronauts aboard Orion, with two going down to the surface for roughly a week. The date depends on spacecraft, lander, spacesuit and mission readiness.
Artemis V — anticipated after Artemis IV. NASA has described another crewed lunar surface expedition and a second commercial lander provider. Its exact timeline and flight design remain open as NASA revises the architecture.
How the hardware fits together
SLS launches Orion and its crew toward the Moon. A human landing system carries astronauts from lunar orbit to the surface and back. New spacesuits support work outside the lander. International partners contribute spacecraft systems, logistics, science and other capabilities; the Artemis Accords guide tracks the separate diplomatic agreement and participating countries. Signing the Accords does not itself mean a country builds a specific spacecraft component.
What to watch
The next decisive milestones are Artemis III docking tests, readiness of the lander and spacesuits for Artemis IV, and NASA’s updated plan for lunar surface infrastructure. In March 2026 NASA said it would pause the Gateway station in its previous form, so older Gateway-dependent descriptions may no longer reflect the active architecture.
Explore all destinations in the Missions directory. Primary sources: NASA Artemis overview and NASA March 2026 program update.
