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NASA's Artemis III becomes low Earth orbit test as lunar landing shifts to 2028

Four astronauts are slated to dock with Blue Origin and SpaceX prototype landers in low Earth orbit, with launch targeted for summer 2027.

Updated Oct 27, 2026 · 12:24 UTC2 reports

The short version

  • NASA says Artemis III, targeted for summer 2027, will send four astronauts to low Earth orbit instead of landing on the Moon.[BBC News]
  • The 14-to-17-day mission involves three rocket launches, three spacecraft and two dockings, according to NASA's description.[BBC News]
  • NASA changed the plan in February 2026 because SpaceX's Starship lander is not ready and in-orbit refuelling has not been demonstrated.[BBC News]
  • The crewed lunar landing moves to Artemis IV, scheduled for 2028, and many in the field doubt that timetable can be met.[BBC News]

Key facts

  • Artemis III is slated to launch in summer 2027 on a 14-to-17-day mission.[BBC News]
  • Four astronauts will dock in low Earth orbit with prototype landers built by Blue Origin and SpaceX.[BBC News]
  • Randy Bresnik is assigned as commander, Luca Parmitano as pilot, and Andre Douglas and Frank Rubio as mission specialists.[BBC News]
  • NASA changed the mission in February 2026 because SpaceX's Starship lander is not ready and in-orbit refuelling has not been demonstrated.[BBC News]
  • A March 2026 US Government Accountability Office report found SpaceX had made limited progress maturing in-orbit refuelling technology.[BBC News]
  • Blue Origin's only Cape Canaveral launch pad was seriously damaged after a rocket exploded during an engine test on 28 May 2026.[BBC News]
  • Artemis IV is currently scheduled for 2028 and would be the first crewed lunar surface landing since 1972.[BBC News]
  • A memo from NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, as reported by NASA Watch, says Artemis 3 is three months behind schedule.[Engadget]

What remains uncertain

  • Many in the field doubt NASA's timetable can be met, given slow Starship lander development and the absence of in-orbit refuelling tests, according to BBC reporting.[BBC News]
  • The supplied reporting does not explain how the reported three-month delay relates to the summer 2027 launch target.[BBC News · Engadget]
  • The three-month delay figure is secondhand, relayed from a NASA Watch report of an internal memo, and the memo itself is not included in the supplied reporting.[Engadget]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.