Meet the astronauts who will carry out a series of objectives in low Earth orbit to demonstrate critical systems needed for a future lunar landing, helping NASA and its partners reduce risk before Americans return to the Moon on Artemis IV.
Artemis III will carry out a series of objectives in low Earth orbit designed to demonstrate critical systems needed for future lunar landings, beginning with Artemis IV. During the mission, the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket will launch four crew members aboard the Orion spacecraft from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
In 2027, the Artemis III mission will practice docking the Orion spacecraft with two lunar landers in low Earth orbit. On future Artemis missions, landers will bring astronauts to the lunar surface. While Artemis III will not land on the Moon, it will test the complex capabilities we need to return humanity there — this time to stay.
