NASA is accelerating efforts for the Artemis III mission, aiming to launch a crew of four astronauts into space in mid or late 2027. Intense preparations include assembling vital hardware and running mission control simulations, an update from the space agency revealed on July 13.
Although Artemis III is not destined for the Moon, it represents a crucial step for the space program, which seeks to establish a sustainable human presence on our natural satellite. The mission will focus on rendezvous and docking operations in low Earth orbit (LEO) with SpaceX’s Starship and Blue Origin’s Blue Moon commercial lunar lander vehicles, testing technologies essential for future crewed lunar voyages.
Assembly and testing of essential components for the SLS rocket
Several key components for the Artemis III mission’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket have already arrived at the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), in Florida. The complex assembly stage continues with the delivery and integration of each part.
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The SLS core stage, for example, was delivered at the end of April and connected to the engine block in May. The first two of the core stage’s four RS-25 engines arrived in June and will be installed after the others are delivered. Next, NASA plans to begin mobile launch platform (MLP) integration and launch operations testing.
The lower segments of the SLS’s two solid rocket boosters (SRBs) were delivered and assembled at MLP last week, while the upper segments of the SRBs arrived at KSC via train in June. These will undergo inspection and testing before the twin thrusters are fully stacked. A temporary weather protection cover was also delivered in June, ensuring the safety of the stage during transport to the launch pad.
Orion capsule advancements and innovations
Inside KSC’s Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building, Artemis III’s Orion capsule makes significant progress. Engineers have completed the installation of the ship’s heat shield, a vital piece for protecting astronauts during re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere.
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This will be the first Orion mission to utilize an improved heat shield. The design improvements were incorporated after analysis of unexpected wear observed on the Artemis I mission’s heat shield. The Orion service module also recently completed acoustic testing and is being prepared for docking with the capsule and eventual transport to the VAB, where it will be stacked on the rocket.
Intense simulations and the path to future lunar exploration
In parallel to physical assembly, Artemis III teams at KSC began monthly launch simulation tests. These exercises are crucial to improving the SLS’s propellant loading procedures, final countdown operations (the ten minutes before liftoff), and launch day operations. The simulations, which began on July 2, 2026, will continue regularly until the mission launch.
As Artemis III progresses, NASA is already projecting the future of the program. The Artemis IV mission, scheduled for late 2028, plans to take astronauts to the surface of the Moon for the first time since 1972, marking a historic return. Parts of the SLS rocket for Artemis IV are also in the assembly phase, with the liquid oxygen (LOX) tank already positioned for testing at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans.
Artemis III delivery and assembly schedule
- SLS Core Stage Delivered: End of April
- Connection of the core stage to the engine block: May
- Arrival of the first two RS-25 engines: June
- Delivery of the temporary protective cover: June
- Arrival of the upper segments of the SRBs thrusters: June
- Start of countdown simulations: July 2, 2026