NASA's Artemis III Mission Aims for First Crewed Lunar Landing Since Apollo 17

NASA’s Artemis III mission is set to return humans to the Moon for the first crewed landing since Apollo 17. The mission—designed as a 10‐day venture—will launch four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket, with a transfer in lunar orbit to SpaceX’s Lunar Starship for the final leg to the surface. Originally slated for no earlier than September 2026, the timeline remains subject to adjustments as engineering teams address technical challenges.

Recent assessments and reports from November and December 2023 indicate that factors such as delays in the development of SpaceX’s Human Landing System and refinements to lunar spacesuits might extend the current schedule. Despite these potential setbacks, including some estimates pointing to a landing as late as 2027, NASA is moving forward while funding commercial ventures through its Commercial Lunar Payload Services program to support broader lunar exploration objectives.