NASA's Artemis Program Explained: Missions, Hardware and What's Next

In April 2026, 4 astronauts flew around the Moon and came home, the first people to travel there since Apollo 17 in 1972. That flight, Artemis II, was the most visible step in NASA’s Artemis program so far. But the program is bigger than one mission, and its plan changed significantly in 2026.

This guide explains what Artemis is, the missions flown and planned, the hardware involved, what changed this year and why returning to the Moon matters for science, industry and future trips to Mars.

What the Artemis program is

Artemis is NASA’s program to send astronauts back to the Moon, land near the lunar south pole and build toward a long-term human presence there, as a stepping stone to Mars. Unlike Apollo, it’s designed as a partnership: NASA works with commercial companies that build landers and other hardware, and with international space agencies that supply major parts and astronauts.

The program is named after Artemis, the twin sister of Apollo in Greek mythology.

Key takeaway: Apollo proved humans could reach the Moon. Artemis aims to make lunar trips repeatable, with commercial landers, international partners and a goal of at least 1 surface landing a year once landings begin.

The missions: flown and planned

Dates for future missions are targets and can shift.

Artemis I

Artemis I launched in November 2022 with no crew aboard. It tested the Space Launch System rocket and the Orion spacecraft on a trip around the Moon and back, ending with a splashdown in the Pacific. Engineers later studied unexpected wear on Orion’s heat shield, which shaped how NASA flew the reentry on the next mission.

Artemis II

According to NASA’s Artemis II mission page, the mission launched April 1, 2026 from Kennedy Space Center and splashed down April 10, 2026, after 9 days, 1 hour and 32 minutes. The crew was NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. It was the first time Orion carried people and the first crewed trip toward the Moon in more than 50 years. Koch became the first woman, Glover the first person of color and Hansen the first Canadian to fly on a lunar mission.

Artemis III: changed from a landing to a test

Artemis III was originally meant to be the first landing. On February 27, 2026, NASA announced an updated plan: Artemis III becomes a 2027 test flight in low Earth orbit, with the first landing moving to Artemis IV in 2028. The aim is to test the hardware a landing depends on, including docking with commercial landers and new spacesuits, before attempting it near the Moon.

In June 2026, NASA named the Artemis III crew: commander Randy Bresnik, pilot Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency, and mission specialists Andre Douglas and Frank Rubio, with Bob Hines as backup. NASA says the crew is expected to spend about 2 weeks in space testing rendezvous and docking with test versions of the Blue Origin and SpaceX landers.

Artemis IV and beyond

NASA describes Artemis IV as the first planned crewed mission to the lunar south pole, in 2028. The February update also called for at least 1 surface landing every year after that.

The hardware behind Artemis

SLS is NASA’s super heavy-lift rocket. In its 2026 update, NASA said it would standardize the rocket’s configuration rather than move to a more powerful upgraded version, aiming for more frequent, more consistent launches.

Orion is the crew capsule. Its European Service Module, supplied through the European Space Agency, provides propulsion, power and life support.

The landers are the biggest difference from Apollo. Instead of NASA building its own lander, it contracts companies to develop and operate them. NASA’s Artemis III test is meant to prove how Orion and these landers work together before a real landing.

What changed in 2026

2026 brought the biggest changes to Artemis since the program began:

• February 27: Artemis III became an Earth-orbit test mission, with the first landing on Artemis IV in 2028 and a push to standardize SLS and fly more often.
• March 24: At an event NASA called Ignition, the agency said it intends to pause Gateway, the planned station in lunar orbit, “in its current form.” NASA said it would shift focus to infrastructure for sustained operations on the surface, a Moon Base, reusing applicable Gateway hardware and international partner commitments.
• April: Artemis II flew successfully.
• June: NASA named the Artemis III crew.

NASA’s Moon Base plan describes 3 phases: robotic missions and technology tests, then early infrastructure for recurring astronaut surface visits, and finally heavier infrastructure for long-duration human presence. NASA also said it plans up to 30 robotic landings through its Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, starting in 2027.

Why returning to the Moon matters

Science. The Moon preserves a record of the early solar system that Earth’s geology has erased. Samples from new regions, especially the south pole, can answer questions Apollo couldn’t.

Resources. Permanently shadowed craters near the south pole are thought to hold water ice. Water can support crews and, split into hydrogen and oxygen, could become rocket propellant, which is why Artemis targets that region.

Practice for Mars. Living and working on the Moon, a few days from Earth, is the place to test habitats, suits, power systems and operations before attempting a far longer trip to Mars.

Industry. Artemis buys landers, suits, rovers and delivery services from companies rather than owning everything. That builds a market that can serve other customers too. See our guide to the commercial space economy.

International partnership and norms. NASA says the Artemis Accords, principles for peaceful and transparent space exploration launched in 2020 by the US and 7 other nations, had 76 signatory countries as of September 2026.

Competition. China has its own crewed lunar program, which adds urgency to US plans and to setting norms for activity at the Moon.

Where to start: following Artemis yourself

1. Bookmark official sources. NASA’s Artemis pages and news releases carry mission updates, crew news and schedule changes.
2. Watch launches live. NASA streams Artemis launches free on NASA+. Our guide on how to watch a rocket launch covers streaming and viewing spots.
3. See the hardware in person. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida covers Artemis exhibits and launch viewing. Our Florida top list helps plan a visit, and Houston’s Johnson Space Center, home of astronaut training, is covered in our Texas top list.
4. Follow the landers. SpaceX and Blue Origin test milestones are good early signals of whether 2027 and 2028 targets hold.
5. Look for opportunities. NASA regularly runs student challenges, public engagement programs and contracting opportunities for small businesses and startups.

Conclusion

Artemis is NASA’s long game for the Moon: a reusable approach built with commercial landers and international partners, aimed at the lunar south pole and, eventually, Mars. Artemis I proved the rocket and capsule, Artemis II proved them with a crew, and the 2026 changes added a 2027 Earth-orbit test before the first landing, now planned for 2028. Expect the schedule to keep evolving, and watch the lander tests closely. For private human spaceflight alongside NASA’s missions, read how space tourism works, or look up terms in our glossary.

Sources

• Artemis II mission page, NASA — launch and splashdown dates, duration and crew
• NASA Adds Mission to Artemis Lunar Program, Updates Architecture (February 27, 2026) — Artemis III changed to an Earth-orbit test, Artemis IV landing in 2028, SLS standardization
• NASA Marches Toward Artemis III Mission in 2027, Names Crew Members (June 9, 2026) — Artemis III crew and objectives, Artemis IV at the south pole
• NASA Unveils Initiatives to Achieve America’s National Space Policy (March 24, 2026) — Gateway pause, Moon Base phases, CLPS landings
• NASA Celebrates as Artemis Accords Surpasses 75 Signatories (September 28, 2026) — 76 signatory countries, 2020 founding