NASA Shifts Artemis III to Low-Earth-Orbit Test for Late 2027

NASA’s Artemis III, planned for a lunar south-pole landing, has been re-targeted to a low-Earth-orbit (LEO) test. In late 2027 the Orion crew capsule will rendezvous and dock with SpaceX’s Starship and/or Blue Origin’s Blue Moon landers, mirroring the Apollo 9 approach and allowing crew return if an anomaly occurs.

Ars TechnicaNASA ‘received responses’ from SpaceX and Blue Origin on Artemis III, Isaacman says

• Feb 2026 – NASA releases revised Artemis III plan, shifting to LEO test.

Ars Technica

• Apr 27 2026 – Administrator Jared Isaacman said both vendors have responded to meet a late-2027 rendezvous and docking requirement.

NASA ‘received responses’ from SpaceX and Blue Origin on Artemis III, Isaacman says

• Late 2027 – Targeted Artemis III launch; 2028 slated for up to two lunar-surface missions.

Ars TechnicaNASA ‘received responses’ from SpaceX and Blue Origin on Artemis III, Isaacman says

NASA’s FY 2027 budget request is $18.6 billion, including a near-50 % cut to science programs. Congress approved $24.4 billion in January 2026, preserving most of the cut. Isaacman noted SpaceX and Blue Origin are investing beyond NASA’s contribution for the landers. NASA also plans to acquire United Launch Alliance’s Centaur V upper stage for future SLS missions.

NASA ‘received responses’ from SpaceX and Blue Origin on Artemis III, Isaacman says

Isaacman told the House that NASA “received responses” from SpaceX and Blue Origin to satisfy the late-2027 rendezvous and docking requirement. He said he is “gaining confidence by the day that it’ll be both” landers and stressed that “every mission is still active.” He added that the detailed budget request is undergoing final administrative checks and that NASA aims to design missions that are “better, faster and at lower cost for the taxpayers.”

NASA ‘received responses’ from SpaceX and Blue Origin on Artemis III, Isaacman saysArs Technica

The House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology announced it will reject the administration’s proposed cuts to NASA’s science portfolio, warning that reductions threaten broader research. Lawmakers also cited the original Artemis III plan as overly ambitious, prompting the shift to a LEO test.

NASA ‘received responses’ from SpaceX and Blue Origin on Artemis III, Isaacman says

NASA’s February briefing suggested a “mid-2027” launch, while Isaacman’s April testimony referenced “late 2027.” The final orbit altitude and whether the SLS upper stage will be required for the LEO test remain undecided.

NASA ‘received responses’ from SpaceX and Blue Origin on Artemis III, Isaacman says

• “received responses from both vendors, both SpaceX and Blue Origin, to meet our needs for a late 2027 rendezvous docking and test the interoperability of both landers in advance of a moon landing attempt in 2028.” — Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator

NASA ‘received responses’ from SpaceX and Blue Origin on Artemis III, Isaacman says

• “gaining confidence by the day that it’ll be both.” — Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator (speaking at the Space Symposium)

NASA ‘received responses’ from SpaceX and Blue Origin on Artemis III, Isaacman says

• “appreciate[s] that both those companies are investing well in excess of that, as well, for a capability that is so important.” — Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator

NASA ‘received responses’ from SpaceX and Blue Origin on Artemis III, Isaacman says

• “We haven’t canceled anything yet. Every mission is still active. Right now, we are proposing that there are a lot of missions in formulation right now that could be done better, faster and at lower cost for the taxpayers,” — Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator

NASA ‘received responses’ from SpaceX and Blue Origin on Artemis III, Isaacman says

NASA expects to deliver its final budget request within the next week and to finalize the Artemis III flight plan before the end of 2026, setting the stage for the 2028 lunar landing attempts.

Ars Technica