NASA adds test mission to Artemis program ahead of astronaut moon landing

Friday 27 February 2026 - 18:00

By: Sahili Aya

NASA adds test mission to Artemis program ahead of astronaut moon landing

NASA has announced a new test mission as part of its Artemis program, aimed at demonstrating spacecraft docking in low-Earth orbit before landing astronauts on the moon. The addition comes as the U.S. space agency revises its flagship lunar effort in response to rising competition from China’s planned crewed moon mission in 2030.

The mission, set for 2027, allows NASA to test procedures and systems prior to the first crewed lunar landing since the Apollo era, now scheduled for Artemis IV in 2028. The test builds on previous uncrewed trials, including the successful 2022 launch of the Space Launch System (SLS) and the Orion capsule.

Program adjustments and partnerships

NASA has canceled planned upgrades to the SLS rocket to prioritize increasing production and flight rates. This decision affects Boeing’s approximately $2 billion contract to build a more powerful SLS upper stage.

For the lunar lander component, NASA is working with private companies SpaceX and Blue Origin, both developing vehicles to ferry astronauts from Orion to the lunar surface. SLS launches the Orion capsule, built by Lockheed Martin, which will then dock with a lander manufactured by either company. Northrop Grumman is also involved in SLS construction.

Preparing for the moon

The new mission provides a critical rehearsal for the more ambitious Artemis III crewed lunar landing. Astronauts aboard Orion will practice docking with one or both lunar landers in Earth orbit, a key step in mission safety and operational readiness.

With Artemis II scheduled for an April launch, four astronauts will orbit the moon and return to Earth, continuing incremental progress toward the first human lunar landing in over 50 years. NASA emphasizes that thorough testing and operational readiness are essential to safely achieve this historic goal.