NASA Delays Crewed Lunar Landing to 2028

Artemis program adjusts timeline, adds mission ahead of planned moon return

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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NASA announced on Friday that it is postponing its planned crewed moon landing under the Artemis program from 2027 to 2028. The space agency also said it will add an additional mission ahead of the lunar landing to focus on testing systems and operations.

Why it matters

The Artemis program is NASA's ambitious plan to return humans to the moon for the first time since the Apollo era. This delay represents a setback in the timeline, but NASA says standardizing vehicle configurations and increasing flight rates are key to achieving the goal of a crewed lunar landing.

The details

Under the revised Artemis plan, the Artemis III mission will now focus on testing systems and operational procedures ahead of the crewed moon landing, which has been pushed back to 2028 from the previous target of 2027.

  • NASA announced the Artemis program adjustments on February 27, 2026.

The players

NASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and space research.

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What’s next

NASA will focus on testing systems and operational procedures during the Artemis III mission ahead of the crewed lunar landing, now scheduled for 2028.

The takeaway

While the Artemis program timeline has been adjusted, NASA remains committed to returning humans to the moon, applying lessons from past successes to ensure a safe and sustainable lunar exploration effort.