Put it in pencil: NASA's Artemis III mission will launch no earlier than late 2027

NASA now expects Artemis III no earlier than late 2027, with a landing attempt likely in 2028.

The schedule hinges on SpaceX and Blue Origin proving their lunar landers can handle rendezvous, docking, refueling, and crewed operations.

NASA is also weighing whether to simplify the mission as it faces delays in certifying human-rated landers.

The setback highlights how hard it remains to build the systems needed for NASA’s return-to-the-Moon plan.