NASA is preparing for Artemis III, a mission scheduled for 2027 that will test spacecraft and lunar landing systems in low Earth orbit before astronauts attempt another crewed landing on the Moon.

The mission will carry four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft: NASA astronauts Randy Bresnik, Frank Rubio and Andre Douglas, alongside European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano. The planned 14-day flight will focus on demonstrations involving test versions of lunar landers developed by SpaceX and Blue Origin.

Artemis III will not involve a landing on the lunar surface. Instead, the mission will test rendezvous and docking operations between Orion and the commercial landers. Astronauts will also assess habitation systems and procedures required for future lunar missions.

NASA plans to launch the lander test vehicles into orbit before sending the crew aboard Orion using its Space Launch System rocket. The spacecraft will then conduct a series of demonstrations to assess how the vehicles operate together.

The tests will examine guidance systems, communications, docking equipment and crew operations. NASA will use the results to identify technical challenges before attempting a lunar landing.

The mission follows a revised Artemis programme timeline. NASA currently plans to use Artemis IV for the first crewed landing near the Moon’s south pole in 2028.

The agency aims to establish a sustained human presence on and around the Moon through a series of increasingly complex missions. The programme is also intended to develop technologies and operational experience for future human exploration of Mars.

Artemis III will therefore serve as a test flight for systems required in later lunar missions rather than a direct return to the lunar surface.