NASA Postpones Crewed Lunar Landing to 2028, Adds New Artemis Mission

Space agency adjusts timeline for Artemis program to prioritize new objectives.

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 to 2028, while also adding a new mission ahead of the lunar landing. The space agency cited the need to standardize vehicle configuration, increase flight rate, and progress through objectives in a logical, phased approach as reasons for the timeline adjustments.

Why it matters

The Artemis program is NASA's ambitious plan to return humans to the Moon, with the ultimate goal of establishing a sustainable lunar presence and using it as a stepping stone for future missions to Mars. The postponement of the crewed landing and addition of a new mission reflects the complexity and challenges involved in executing such a monumental endeavor.

The details

NASA's updated Artemis plan includes an additional mission ahead of the crewed lunar landing, which was previously scheduled for 2024. The space agency stated that standardizing vehicle configuration, increasing flight rate, and progressing through objectives in a logical, phased approach are necessary to achieve the goal of a crewed lunar landing, similar to how it was accomplished in 1969.

  • NASA announced the Artemis program adjustments on February 27, 2026.
  • The crewed lunar landing is now postponed to 2028, from the previous target of 2024.

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 continue to work towards the new timeline for the crewed lunar landing, with the added mission serving as a stepping stone towards that goal.

The takeaway

The adjustments to the Artemis program timeline reflect NASA's commitment to a methodical and well-planned approach to returning humans to the Moon, even if it means delaying the initial crewed landing. This approach aims to ensure the success and sustainability of the lunar exploration efforts.