Artemis III mission still slated for 2027 launch despite lander development risks, astronaut says

NASA astronaut Andre Douglas told Reuters that the agency’s third Artemis mission is still targeting a launch next summer, but warned that the schedule could shift because the two lunar landers still require significant development work. The mission will be the first Artemis flight to use the commercial landers – SpaceX’s Starship and Blue Origin’s Blue Moon – and will remain in Earth orbit to test crewed docking with the Orion capsule before transferring astronauts to the landers.

Douglas said the key milestones for the contractors include demonstrating the ability to store and transfer super-cooled propellants in space and to dock with another vehicle in orbit. He added that NASA plans to meet with both companies in the coming months to assess readiness.

The crew for Artemis III, announced earlier this year, includes Douglas, fellow astronauts Randy Bresnik and Frank Rubio, and Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano. The mission was originally intended to be the program’s first lunar landing, but schedule changes shifted it to a rehearsal flight ahead of a planned surface landing in 2028 on Artemis IV.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman expressed confidence in the progress of Orion and the Space Launch System, which are under direct NASA control, while noting that the privately managed lander programs receive billions of dollars in funding but operate with limited agency oversight.

Douglas, who will fly to space for the first time on Artemis III, cited his Coast Guard background in adapting to rapid changes, saying, "I learned in the military that the plan only lasts for 10 minutes. You have expectations, but then you’re also ready in the background for change."