NASA head Jared Isaacman announced an accelerated timeline for the Artemis lunar program. The first crewed lunar landing since the Apollo era is now scheduled for the Artemis 4 mission in 2028, targeting the Moon's south pole to establish long-term infrastructure and prepare for future Mars missions.
The Artemis 3 mission, originally intended for a lunar landing, is rescheduled for summer 2027. Four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft will spend up to 14 days in low Earth orbit to test critical technologies. The mission includes launching Blue Origin's Blue Moon Mark 2 lander to an altitude of 440 km for docking tests.
During the Artemis 3 flight, the crew will spend two days evaluating the lander's life support and control systems. The mission also involves testing docking dynamics with a SpaceX Starship Version 3 prototype, though astronauts will not board the vehicle. The remaining time will be dedicated to biological research and sensor testing.
Following the completion of the orbital tests, the Orion spacecraft will splash down in the Pacific Ocean near the California coast. Meanwhile, China aims to conduct its first crewed lunar landing by 2030, with industry experts projecting a potential 2029 date to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the People's Republic of China.
