NASA revamps Artemis program to reduce flight gaps and risk

NASA announced a revised Artemis schedule that adds a 2027 orbital docking test for a lunar lander and aims for one or two crewed moon landings in 2028.

NASA announced revisions to the Artemis lunar program after recent launch issues and concerns about the readiness of a lunar lander and moonwalking suits. Administrator Jared Isaacman said Artemis III will be repurposed into a 2027 mission to carry a lunar lander into low-Earth orbit for docking practice with Orion astronauts. The agency now aims for one or possibly two crewed moon landings in 2028 rather than an immediate surface landing by Artemis III. Isaacman said longer gaps between flights are unacceptable and that NASA will standardize Space Launch System rockets to increase cadence. Key developments: - Artemis III will be repurposed for a 2027 low-Earth orbit lunar lander docking test, according to Administrator Jared Isaacman. - NASA now aims for one or two crewed lunar landings in 2028. - Artemis II has been delayed to April at the earliest following a helium issue with the Space Launch System rocket. - Earlier Artemis I and recent pad checks experienced hydrogen fuel leaks and helium flow problems, which officials reported influenced the program overhaul. - Isaacman said he wants to reduce the interval between flights to about one year or less and plans to standardize SLS rockets to help achieve that. Summary: The changes are intended to reduce operational risk and narrow long gaps between Artemis flights by adding an orbital test and increasing launch cadence. Reported follow-up actions include continued repairs to the SLS rocket, preparing the 2027 docking test, adjusting Artemis II timing as work continues, and progressing toward the planned 2028 crewed landings.