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NASA lays out plan for Artemis 3 moon-lander test flight —but when will it launch?
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NASA on Oct. 23 outlined a detailed concept of operations for Artemis III, a complex test flight that will involve three powerful rockets and multiple dockings in low Earth orbit. The agency stressed the mission's importance to its moon plans during a press conference at Kennedy Space Center. However, NASA did not announce a launch date for the mission.
Artemis III will launch three rockets from Florida's Space Coast: NASA's Space Launch System (SLS), SpaceX's Starship, and Blue Origin's New Glenn. Jeremy Parsons, NASA's Artemis program manager, called it 'likely the most complicated launch campaign ever undertaken.' The sequence begins with New Glenn carrying Blue Origin's Blue Moon lunar lander to low Earth orbit. SLS will follow, launching the Artemis III astronauts.
SLS will launch NASA astronauts Randy Bresnik, Andre Douglas, and Frank Rubio, along with the European Space Agency's Luca Parmitano, aboard the Orion spacecraft. Orion will initially deploy into a highly elliptical orbit ranging from 18 miles to 1,122 miles above Earth, then maneuver to an altitude of about 345 miles for thermal stability. Parsons noted that Orion was built as a deep-space vehicle, so managing thermal environments in low Earth orbit is crucial. The crew will spend two days checking out Orion and its systems before meeting Blue Moon.
On Flight Day 3, Orion will dock with Blue Moon at an altitude of 273 miles. Over the next two days, the crew will open the hatch, enter the lander, and evaluate its environmental controls and life support systems. They will also test emergency scenarios and dual vehicle control while confirming the spacecraft can maintain proper atmospheric pressure. Parsons said these operations will put Mission Control teams through their paces.
After those operations, likely on Flight Day 6, Starship will launch with a special docking adapter on its nose. The SpaceX vehicle will meet Orion on Flight Day 8 at about 237 miles altitude. The demonstration will last roughly two hours, and the crew will not enter Starship. Parsons said the encounter will provide critical data on docking forces and how the vehicles will work together.
Artemis III will continue for six to nine days after Orion undocks from Starship before splashing down in the ocean. The nominal mission length is 14 days, though it could extend to 17. During that time, the crew will evaluate survival suits—a task not completed during Artemis II—and conduct health assessments, scientific experiments, and technology demonstrations. These activities aim to prepare crews for longer missions.
Parsons emphasized that every Artemis III activity is designed to reduce risk for future lunar landing missions. The mission's main goal is to keep Artemis IV on track for a 2028 landing near the moon's south pole. While the plan is detailed, the lack of a launch date leaves the timeline uncertain.
