NASA Delays Moon Landing, Adds Crewed Test Flight Before Artemis 4 Lunar Mission

NASA is revising its timeline for returning astronauts to the moon, announcing an additional crewed test flight before any lunar landing takes place.

Under the updated plan, what was previously known as Artemis 3 — originally slated to land astronauts on the lunar surface — will now send a crewed Orion capsule into Earth’s orbit to dock with a prototype lunar lander. The mission will serve as a critical systems test before attempting a landing.

The first moon landing under the Artemis program will now take place on Artemis 4, which is targeted for 2028.

Meanwhile, Artemis 2 — the mission designed to send four astronauts on a test flight around the moon — has also been delayed until at least April, according to the space agency.

NASA officials say the additional steps are intended to ensure safety and mission readiness as the agency works with commercial partners to finalize key hardware, including the lunar lander system.

The Artemis program is designed to establish a sustained human presence on the moon and lay the groundwork for future missions to Mars.

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