NASA Details Revised Artemis Architecture for Moon Return
The agency outlined updated plans for lunar landers and Orion spacecraft, aiming for a crewed landing by 2028.
By Natalia Campos ·
NASA has announced plans to return astronauts to the lunar surface by 2028, outlining a revised mission architecture for its Artemis Program. The agency detailed significant changes to its plans for the Artemis missions, including modifications to how its Orion spacecraft will interact with lunar landers developed by SpaceX and Blue Origin. These updates are intended to streamline the process of putting boots on the Moon.
The timeline for achieving this goal begins with the Artemis III mission, which NASA officials stated they anticipate launching by summer 2027. This mission is a demonstration flight that involves docking with both the Blue Moon and Starship landers near Earth. The subsequent mission, Artemis IV, is scheduled for a 2028 launch and would involve an actual landing on the lunar surface.
The revised plan for SpaceX’s Starship vehicle now requires the Orion spacecraft to dock with the lander in high-Earth orbit before the journey to the Moon. For Blue Origin, the plan outlines four launches of the New Glenn rocket and does not include spacecraft-to-spacecraft refueling. Additionally, the architecture for Blue Origin’s Blue Moon lander permits a potential rendezvous with Orion in low-Lunar orbit.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman expressed confidence in the agency's ability to meet its objectives. He stated, “This is an achievable path we are on right now.” He further added, “We have the mandate, we have the resources, and the support from our stakeholders to be able to execute, and that’s what we intend to do.”
The proposed changes represent a significant shift from previous plans. Earlier in 2026, SpaceX engineers had requested the removal of a requirement to dock with Orion in a near-rectilinear halo orbit around the Moon. That specific requirement was eliminated following NASA’s cancellation of the Lunar Gateway earlier this year, resolving a key point of difficulty for the Starship mission.
With these architectural adjustments, NASA is proceeding with its planned timeline for the Artemis missions. The agency’s focus now shifts to preparing for the Artemis III demonstration flight, set for launch in summer 2027, as a precursor to the Artemis IV crewed lunar landing targeted for 2028.
Source: Ars Technica
