Artemis III will be one of the most complex test missions in NASA history. Launching in 2027, Artemis III astronauts will practice rendezvous and docking with two commercial lunar landers designed to carry crew from the Orion spacecraft to the lunar surface. Details below ⬇️
The Moon is seen shining over the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft atop the mobile launcher on January 28, 2026. The sky is a dark blue gradient in the background. The core stage of the rocket is a burnt orange color. It is topped with the white Orion spacecraft and sandwiched between two white solid rocket boosters. The mobile launcher is a trussed structure that stands behind the rocket. The perspective of the image if from below the rocket looking upward. Credit: NASA/Brandon Hancock

ALT The Moon is seen shining over the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft atop the mobile launcher on January 28, 2026. The sky is a dark blue gradient in the background. The core stage of the rocket is a burnt orange color. It is topped with the white Orion spacecraft and sandwiched between two white solid rocket boosters. The mobile launcher is a trussed structure that stands behind the rocket. The perspective of the image if from below the rocket looking upward. Credit: NASA/Brandon Hancock

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NASA’s Artemis III mission will last about two weeks. The mission begins when Blue Origin launches a test version of its Blue Moon Mark 2 lander into orbit. Days after, four astronauts will launch aboard the Orion spacecraft on top of the Space Launch System rocket.
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Following a checkout of Orion’s systems, the mission’s first major objective begins: rendezvous and docking with the Blue Moon test vehicle. The astronauts will open the hatch and enter the spacecraft. After their assessment, they return to Orion. Then, Orion undocks.

Oct 23, 2026 · 10:44 PM UTC

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SpaceX will launch a Starship Version 3 test article to rendezvous and dock with Orion in a test expected to last up to two hours. While the astronauts will not enter Starship during this test, the team will evaluate how Orion and Starship interact as a docked system in space.
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Even after docking activities are complete, Artemis III will continue generating data that supports future missions. NASA will evaluate the performance of Orion Crew Survival System suits, measure acoustics inside of Orion, and perform science and technology demonstrations.
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When ready, the Orion spacecraft and its crew will reenter Earth’s atmosphere and splash down in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of California. Every activity performed during Artemis III supports a larger goal: reducing risk before astronauts return to the lunar surface.
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Artemis III is about learning. The lessons learned throughout the mission will help refine future exploration plans, strengthen partnerships with industry, and ensure astronauts are prepared for humanity's next giant leap to the lunar surface in 2028. go.nasa.gov/4zpVyzj
NASA’s Artemis III Mission to Test Future Moon Lander Operations - NASA

NASA’s Artemis III Mission to Test Future Moon Lander Operations - NASA

Before astronauts return to the lunar surface, NASA will first conduct one of the most ambitious and complex test missions in the agency's history. 

nasa.gov
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Letting crew spend two days inside Blue Moon while Starship only gets a two-hour nose dock is NASA admitting which lander is farther along.
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