Artemis program update at IAC 2026

NASA shared updates on its Artemis program during the International Astronautical Congress in Antalya, Turkey, from October 5 to 9, 2026. The updates followed reorganization efforts announced by NASA administrator Jared Isaacman in February 2026.

Artemis III redefined as orbital test

Artemis III, initially planned as the first crewed lunar landing since Apollo 17 in 1972, has been redefined as an orbital test mission with four astronauts, including one from Europe. The mission is now set for 2027 to test the docking of the Orion spacecraft with two competing landers: SpaceX's Starship and Blue Origin's Blue Moon.

Artemis IV and V set for crewed landings

The first crewed landing is now planned for Artemis IV, starting in 2028, with a second crewed landing scheduled for Artemis V at the end of 2028. This shift allows more time for testing and development of the landers before actual lunar surface missions.

Starship's design and challenges

SpaceX's Starship, a 52-meter-tall vehicle with six Raptor methane engines, is designed with a cabin at the top and an elevator to transport astronauts to the surface. In contrast, Blue Moon, at 16 meters, uses a ladder for descent. Starship must complete two unprecedented tasks by the end of 2027: refueling in orbit and an uncrewed lunar landing.

Progress and milestones for Starship

SpaceX has made progress with Starship, especially in orbital flight. NASA has outlined key milestones for SpaceX, including the first Starship caught by the launch tower, a first flight from Florida, the second reuse of a Super Heavy V3 booster, and the completion of "Cabin One," a full-scale crew cabin tested at Starbase, Texas, by the end of 2026.

2027 milestones and challenges

In early 2027, milestones include fuel transfer demonstrations and a second launch from Florida. By spring 2027, landing foot tests, hatch tests on Cabin One, and the transport of the test vehicle to Florida by barge are expected. Artemis III is scheduled for summer 2027, with the first flight of a refueler, a demonstration lander launch, and an uncrewed lunar landing expected by year's end.

Refueling in orbit remains a challenge

Refueling in orbit is one of the program's biggest technical challenges. Starship arrives in orbit with nearly empty tanks and must be refueled by other Starships, which act as refuelers. These fuels are stored at -160 °C, and no one has yet performed this transfer between spacecraft at this scale.

Delays and competition in the program

NASA has not yet selected the Artemis IV lander, and SpaceX was the only one chosen in 2021 for the first landing. However, Blue Origin plans its own uncrewed landing in early 2028. SpaceX has fallen behind schedule, and a March 2026 report by NASA's Office of Inspector General estimated at least two years of delays since the contract was signed in July 2021, with more delays expected.

Future missions and international collaboration

Beyond the first landing, NASA plans to use a cargo version of Starship, capable of delivering about 15 tons to the Moon, to transport a pressurized rover developed by the Japanese Space Agency (JAXA). This mission is not expected to be assigned to SpaceX before its 2032 fiscal year, which begins in October 2031.

Update scheduled for October 23

Jared Isaacman will provide an update on Artemis III and Artemis IV on Friday, October 23, at 8 p.m. (Paris time), during a press conference at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.