NASA Overhauls Artemis Moon Program, Targeting 2028 Landing

New plan includes annual crewed launches and scrapping Boeing's Exploration Upper Stage

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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NASA has announced a major overhaul to its Artemis program, adding an extra mission in 2027 to test docking capabilities before a planned 2028 lunar landing. The changes come after a series of setbacks, including an upper-stage helium leak that forced the agency to delay the Artemis II launch. Under the new plan, NASA will scrap the Boeing-developed Exploration Upper Stage and aim for annual crewed launches to the moon.

Why it matters

This overhaul is intended to reduce risks and rebuild NASA's workforce and capabilities before attempting a moon landing, after a string of technical issues and delays. The additional 2027 mission to test docking with a lunar lander aligns the Artemis program more closely with the progression of the Apollo missions, which first tested docking in low-Earth orbit before the historic Apollo 11 moon landing.

The details

The new Artemis plan calls for an Artemis III mission in mid-2027 that will launch a crew to low-Earth orbit to dock the Orion capsule with a lunar lander provided by either SpaceX or Blue Origin. This will be followed by the Artemis IV mission, which is now targeted for 2028 and will attempt the first crewed lunar landing since Apollo 17 in 1972. NASA also plans to continue annual crewed launches to the moon going forward.

  • The Artemis II mission, which will send astronauts on a round-trip around the moon, is upcoming.
  • The new Artemis III mission is targeted for launch in mid-2027.
  • The Artemis IV mission, which will attempt the first crewed lunar landing since 1972, is now targeted for 2028.

The players

NASA

The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the government agency responsible for the country's civilian space program, including the Artemis program to return astronauts to the moon.

Jared Isaacman

The current NASA Administrator who outlined the new Artemis program changes at a news conference.

Boeing

The aerospace company that developed the Exploration Upper Stage, which is now being scrapped as part of the Artemis overhaul.

SpaceX

A private space company working with NASA as a partner on the Artemis program, potentially providing the lunar lander for the Artemis III mission.

Blue Origin

Another private space company working with NASA as a partner on the Artemis program, also potentially providing the lunar lander for the Artemis III mission.

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What they’re saying

“Right now our program is essentially set up with Apollo 8 then going right to the moon. That is not a pathway to success.”

— Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator (livescience.com)

“If you want a history tidbit, look at the time when Apollo 7 splashed down to when Apollo 8 launched, you're approximately two months apart. We need to start going back to basics and moving in this direction.”

— Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator (livescience.com)

What’s next

NASA plans to continue annual crewed launches to the moon after the Artemis IV mission, which is now targeted for 2028.

The takeaway

This overhaul of the Artemis program is intended to reduce risks and rebuild NASA's capabilities before attempting a crewed lunar landing, after a series of technical setbacks. The additional 2027 mission to test docking with a lunar lander aligns the program more closely with the stepwise progression of the Apollo missions.