NASA Adds Mission to Artemis Lunar Program, Updates Architecture

NASA announced Friday the agency is increasing its cadence of missions under the Artemis program to return American astronauts to the Moon and establish an enduring presence. The agency will standardize vehicle configuration, add an additional mission in 2027, and pursue at least one surface landing every year thereafter.

As teams prepare to launch Artemis II in the weeks ahead, Artemis III, now slated for 2027, will test systems and operational capabilities in low Earth orbit to prepare for an Artemis IV landing in 2028. This new mission will endeavor to include a rendezvous and docking with one or both commercial landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin, in-space tests of the docked vehicles, integrated checkout of life support, communications, and propulsion systems, as well as tests of the new Extravehicular Activity (xEVA) suits.

United States

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