Successful flight of Artemis II: what awaits the Artemis III mission?
11 april 2026 в 20:13
Mission accomplished for the Artemis II crew! Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen completed their lunar flyby aboard NASA’s Orion capsule in April 2026. Now that they have fulfilled their mission, astronomy enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting Artemis II. But will this mission actually land on the Moon?
After Artemis II returns to Earth on April 10, 2026, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stated, «We are once again sending astronauts to the Moon. This is just the beginning».
Meanwhile, NASA Deputy Administrator Amit Kshatriya recalled NASA’s last visit to the Moon.
«Fifty-three years ago, humanity left the Moon», - Kshatriya said. «This time we are returning to stay. Let’s finish what they started. Let’s focus on what remains unfinished. Let’s not just plant flags and leave, but stay with a firm purpose».
So does this mean Artemis III will go to the Moon? Here’s what we know about the next mission.
The launch of Artemis III is scheduled for 2027, but the exact date has not yet been determined.
No, despite the excitement surrounding the lunar orbit of Artemis II, Artemis III will not actually land on the Moon. According to NASA, the Artemis III mission «will launch a crew aboard the Orion spacecraft on the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket to test the capabilities of rendezvous and docking between Orion and commercial spacecraft necessary for landing astronauts on the Moon».
The Artemis III crew—who have yet to be announced—"will go into Earth orbit aboard the Orion spacecraft" as a test. The mission «will test one or both commercial landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin», - NASA notes on its website.
Artemis IV is the mission from which NASA expects a Moon landing in 2028. Of course, this depends on the success of Artemis III
After Artemis II returns to Earth on April 10, 2026, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stated, «We are once again sending astronauts to the Moon. This is just the beginning».
Meanwhile, NASA Deputy Administrator Amit Kshatriya recalled NASA’s last visit to the Moon.
«Fifty-three years ago, humanity left the Moon», - Kshatriya said. «This time we are returning to stay. Let’s finish what they started. Let’s focus on what remains unfinished. Let’s not just plant flags and leave, but stay with a firm purpose».
So does this mean Artemis III will go to the Moon? Here’s what we know about the next mission.
The launch of Artemis III is scheduled for 2027, but the exact date has not yet been determined.
No, despite the excitement surrounding the lunar orbit of Artemis II, Artemis III will not actually land on the Moon. According to NASA, the Artemis III mission «will launch a crew aboard the Orion spacecraft on the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket to test the capabilities of rendezvous and docking between Orion and commercial spacecraft necessary for landing astronauts on the Moon».
The Artemis III crew—who have yet to be announced—"will go into Earth orbit aboard the Orion spacecraft" as a test. The mission «will test one or both commercial landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin», - NASA notes on its website.
Artemis IV is the mission from which NASA expects a Moon landing in 2028. Of course, this depends on the success of Artemis III
© Artemenko Olga
