In Simple Terms
NASA is changing the order of its next Moon missions. In 2027, astronauts will test how their spacecraft connects with two different lunar landers in orbit around Earth; NASA hopes to send astronauts to the Moon’s surface in 2028. The tests are meant to catch problems early, while the agency prepares backup options for rockets, spacecraft, and spacesuits.
The path back to the Moon under NASA’s Artemis program is no longer just a matter of launching a rocket and waiting for astronauts to reach the Moon’s surface. In a briefing on October 23, the agency described a broader plan for the crewed mission scheduled for 2027: a major test in Earth orbit before the landing attempt NASA is targeting for 2028. The central idea is to test the different parts of the journey—and how they work together—before crew safety depends on them far from Earth.
The change is part of a wider shift in priorities, some of which NASA announced earlier this year through its Ignition initiative. The new approach focuses on reducing technical risks, speeding up readiness for flights, and drawing on the experience of both NASA and private space companies. It does not mean the challenges have disappeared. Landers, refueling in orbit, and rocket preparation schedules all have to fit together as parts of a single chain.
The 2027 Mission: A Crewed Rehearsal Far from the Moon
Artemis 3 will carry four astronauts aboard Orion, which will launch on the Space Launch System rocket, commonly known as SLS. Rather than heading for a lunar landing, the mission will focus on rendezvous and docking tests with two experimental landers being developed by Blue Origin and SpaceX. The mission is planned to last 14 days.
A rendezvous involves guiding two spacecraft toward one another in orbit. Docking joins them in a way that can allow crew members to move between the vehicles or carry out operations together. These maneuvers may sound like routine procedures, but they are essential to a mission in which Orion must meet another spacecraft in space, and astronauts will later depend on a lander to reach the Moon’s surface and return.
The mission will conduct the tests in two stages. First, Blue Origin will launch a test version of its Blue Moon lander into Earth orbit. Orion, carrying the four astronauts, will launch afterward, approach Blue Moon, and perform a docking maneuver. Once that test is complete, Orion will separate from Blue Moon and move on to a similar test with SpaceX’s Starship lunar lander, after a test version of Starship has been launched into orbit.
Carrying out both tests on one crewed flight will give NASA a chance to examine two different lander designs instead of testing each system in isolation. It will also let the crew practice approaching and connecting with two vehicles built to different designs, before a later mission relies on one of them for a lunar landing. NASA plans to use what it learns from these maneuvers to reduce operational uncertainty ahead of the attempt to reach the surface in 2028.
From Orbit to the Moon: Two Ways to Land
NASA plans for Artemis 4 to be the mission that aims to put astronauts on the lunar surface in 2028. The journey will begin with the crew launching aboard Orion on an SLS rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The trip from Orion to the Moon’s surface will depend on a lander developed by one of two companies: SpaceX or Blue Origin.
SpaceX plans to use Starship, with a strategy that calls for the spacecraft to take on additional fuel while in orbit around Earth. After refueling, Starship will meet Orion, and the two spacecraft will continue toward the Moon. Transferring fuel to the spacecraft in orbit is central to this approach: the plan depends on adding fuel after launch so Starship is ready for the next stage of the journey.
Blue Origin is developing the Blue Moon Mark 2 lander. Its plan calls for additional propulsion stages in Earth orbit to send the lander toward the Moon. Once there, the lander will meet Orion in relatively low lunar orbit and then carry the astronauts down to the surface. The companies are pursuing the same goal, but with different designs and operating plans.
Having two possible systems gives NASA more room to adjust as development and testing progress. Continuing work on both options means the agency is not tying the entire landing plan to a single vehicle, and it can compare their readiness and address challenges that arise with each design. Even so, whichever lander is selected will still have to prove it can operate safely with Orion and carry out everything required for a crewed mission.
Rocket Changes Could Keep NASA from Relying on One Option
NASA’s search for flexibility extends beyond lunar landers. The agency is also considering two possibilities for the upper stage that will fly with the SLS rocket on Artemis 4. An upper stage continues providing thrust after the earlier rocket stages have finished their work, helping send the spacecraft toward its destination.
The first option is the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage already used with SLS. The second is an extended version of the Centaur 5 stage being developed by United Launch Alliance, which can hold additional fuel. NASA says examining both alternatives will allow it to keep its options open rather than prepare for just one option.
Considering two options does not mean both will fly on the mission. Instead, it gives the agency a way to respond to potential engineering problems without making the entire schedule dependent on one path. On a mission made up of closely connected stages, the choice of upper stage can affect how the spacecraft is sent toward its destination. Keeping alternatives available could therefore give planners greater flexibility.
Faster Preparation and Stronger Expertise at NASA
NASA says the hardware needed for Artemis 3 remains on schedule, and that improvements to spacecraft and rocket preparation procedures have cut processing time by about 50 percent. That matters because launch readiness involves more than building the vehicle: inspection, assembly, and other preparation work must also be completed before the equipment is ready to fly.
The agency also reported an engineering achievement involving a component in a critical rocket fuel line. Rather than wait for an outside supplier, NASA engineers redesigned, built, and tested the part themselves in five months. According to NASA, the work cost about one-tenth of the earlier estimate provided by an outside supplier.
The example is part of a broader effort to rebuild technical expertise within NASA and strengthen the ability of its teams to work on rocket components and operations. Jeremy Parsons, NASA’s Artemis program manager, said investment in these capabilities is intended to build teams with strong expertise in technical fields, rather than continuing to rely on outside contractors for every task of this kind.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has linked the changes to the agency’s focus on achieving mission goals quickly while maintaining safety and affordability. For the program, it is not enough for the hardware to reach the launchpad eventually. Cutting the time and cost of preparatory work could help make a series of missions more sustainable, as long as required testing is not sacrificed.
A Lighter Suit for the First Trips to the Surface
Preparations are also changing when it comes to what astronauts will wear on the Moon. NASA is working with Axiom Space on a second, lighter suit called the egress suit. It is intended for the first walks on the lunar surface and is estimated to weigh about half as much as the larger, primary suit Axiom is developing.
The idea is not to replace the more capable suit, but to provide a lighter design for the first missions that require astronauts to venture onto the surface. That could make preparations for early flights easier and help astronauts begin exploring sooner. The primary suit will remain part of NASA’s plans for future missions that call for longer periods outside the spacecraft or more demanding surface activities.
Having two suits reflects the fact that preparing for a lunar mission involves more than the rocket and spacecraft. The crew needs equipment suited to each part of the work, from traveling and docking to moving around on the surface. The choice of suit will therefore depend on what the mission requires; the lighter design is not a universal solution for every future flight or activity.
From a Short Visit to a Lasting Human Presence
NASA sees the program as part of an effort that goes beyond sending astronauts to the Moon for a one-time visit. As Artemis advances, the agency wants to carry out more complex missions near the lunar south pole, a region that is a major focus of future exploration. The goal is to expand the places people can investigate firsthand while building practical experience from one mission to the next.
Each flight will add practical knowledge: how spacecraft work together, what it takes to support a crew, and how to carry out more complex work on the surface. That is why, under the current plan, the 2027 tests are a step toward checking the systems before the attempted landing in 2028, not an end in themselves. The success of this approach will still depend on completing development, testing, and preparation on schedule.
NASA believes lunar missions could lead to scientific discoveries and economic benefits, as well as technologies that support exploration farther away. Looking further ahead, the agency sees sending astronauts to Mars as its next historic goal, with experience gained near the Moon serving as a foundation for preparing for more difficult journeys. That remains a future ambition; the immediate task is to prove that the systems can carry out a lunar mission safely.
The Bottom Line
NASA is reshaping the Artemis sequence so that a crewed test flight in Earth orbit in 2027 comes before the targeted lunar landing in 2028. During the 14-day mission, four astronauts will practice docking with landers from Blue Origin and SpaceX, while NASA continues preparing Orion, the SLS rocket, alternative upper stages, and spacesuits. The agency also reports cutting preparation time by about 50 percent and building a fuel-line component in five months for roughly one-tenth of the outside estimate. The bigger challenge is turning those tests and improvements into a steady series of missions that can support a longer human presence on the Moon—and build experience for journeys farther into space.