NASA plans 2027 Artemis III orbital rehearsal ahead of crewed Moon landings
NASA has outlined plans for a major rehearsal in lunar orbit that will help prepare astronauts for future missions to the Moon, with the agency aiming to carry out the demonstration during the Artemis III mission in 2027.
Rather than attempting a lunar landing, the mission will focus on testing complex operations in space, including rendezvous and docking procedures between NASA’s Orion spacecraft and commercial human landing systems. Engineers and flight controllers on Earth will work alongside astronauts to evaluate how the spacecraft perform during the exercise.
The rehearsal forms part of NASA’s wider Artemis programme, which is intended to return astronauts to the Moon. Information gathered during the mission will be used to improve safety and reduce technical risks before crewed lunar landings begin in 2028.
Two commercial lunar lander developers will contribute hardware to the mission.
NASA is working with SpaceX and Blue Origin under its Human Landing System programme, with both companies expected to launch test versions of their lunar landers using commercial rockets. Meanwhile, the Artemis III crew will travel separately aboard the Orion spacecraft after its launch on NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS).
Although the landers involved in Artemis III will not carry astronauts to the lunar surface, they are expected to demonstrate technologies that will support future missions.
SpaceX plans to fly Version 3 of its Starship spacecraft, which is intended to become the basis of its Starship Human Landing System. Blue Origin is preparing to test the crew cabin designed for its own lunar landing vehicle.
NASA says both companies will use the mission to collect engineering and operational data that can shape later uncrewed flights around the Moon before astronauts eventually use similar spacecraft for lunar surface missions.
Agency engineers have been working with both commercial partners to determine the technical objectives for Artemis III while allowing each company to adapt its plans as spacecraft development continues.
The orbital demonstration is expected to become an important milestone in NASA’s preparations, giving mission teams an opportunity to validate procedures in space before astronauts attempt regular landings on the lunar surface later in the decade.
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