Artemis IV
| Mission type | Crewed lunar landing |
|---|---|
| Operator | NASA |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft |
|
| Manufacturer |
|
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | Early 2028 (planned) |
| Rocket | Space Launch System |
| Launch site | Kennedy Space Center, LC-39B |
| End of mission | |
| Landing site | Pacific Ocean (planned) |
Artemis IV is planned to be the third crewed mission and first lunar landing of the NASA-led Artemis program, marking the first crewed landing on the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972. It will be the first mission to use the standardized configuration of the Space Launch System (SLS), with a different upper stage in place of the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS) flown on the previous SLS launches.[1] The SLS will send an Orion spacecraft carrying the astronaut crew members to lunar orbit.
The mission depends on a prior support flight to place a lunar lander—either SpaceX's Starship HLS or Blue Origin's Blue Moon—into lunar orbit before the crew launch. When Orion docks with the lander the crew will transfer to it, descend to the lunar surface and conduct extravehicular activities (EVAs) there. They will then ascend back to the Orion waiting in lunar orbit, which will return the four astronauts to Earth. As of March 2026, launch is scheduled for early 2028.[1]
Before February 2026, Artemis IV was proposed as the program's second lunar landing mission, sending an Orion with four astronauts to the Lunar Gateway space station, where they would install the I-Hab module, before heading down to the lunar surface.
Original Overview
The mission will deliver and install the International Habitation Module (I-Hab) of the Lunar Gateway space station. I-Hab is being developed by the European Space Agency and the Japanese space agency JAXA. The mission will dock I-Hab to the first Gateway elements, the Power and Propulsion Element and Habitation and Logistics Outpost.
After docking, astronauts will board a Starship HLS (HLS) vehicle also docked to the station. They will descend to the lunar surface in the HLS lander for a multi-day site inspection.[2]
Artemis IV will be the first flight of the Block 1B version of the Space Launch System. For Block 1B the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage used on SLS Block 1 will be replaced with the more powerful Exploration Upper Stage, increasing the rocket's trans-lunar injection capability from 27 to 42 t (60,000 to 93,000 lb).[3] This increased performance allows I-Hab to be launched together with the Orion.
Elements
Space Launch System
The Space Launch System is a super-heavy-lift launcher used to launch the Orion spacecraft from Earth to a trans-lunar orbit. This mission's core stage will use RS-25 engines E2044, E2050, E2051, and E2063.[4][5] This will be the first Artemis mission to use an SLS Block 1B rocket with an advanced Exploration Upper Stage for four upcoming missions until the proposed Artemis IX, which will use SLS Block 2 with advanced boosters.[6]
Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle
Orion is the crew transport vehicle used by all Artemis missions. It comprises the Orion Crew Module and the European Service Module and will transport the crew from Earth to the Gateway orbit, dock to the Gateway, deliver the I-Hab module to the Gateway, and return them to Earth.[7]
Gateway
Gateway is a small modular space station to be established in Near-rectilinear halo orbit (NRHO).[8] The first two Gateway elements (Power and Propulsion Element and the Habitation and Logistics Outpost) will launch together aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy and spend a year spiraling out to the near-rectilinear halo orbit around the Moon prior to Artemis IV.[9]
Human Landing System
Artemis IV mission plans call for use of the SpaceX Starship HLS Option B configuration to support the lunar landing and return to Gateway phase of the mission.[10]
Mobile Launcher 2
The heavier total mass of the SLS Block 1B vehicle requires use of the Mobile Launcher-2 ground support equipment. Development schedules and challenges experienced by the ML-2 contractor team in the design and delivery of the system have placed this GSE on the critical path from a schedule perspective.[11] Delays to ML-2 availability for use will delay launch of the SLS Block 1B variant. The NASA Office of Inspectior General (OIG) estimates the earliest that ML-2 will be available for Artemis IV is November 2026.[11]
See also
References
- ^ a b Warner, Cheryl (March 3, 2026). "NASA Strengthens Artemis: Adds Mission, Refines Overall Architecture". NASA. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
- ^ Foust, Jeff (October 30, 2022). "Lunar landing restored for Artemis 4 mission". SpaceNews. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
- ^ "SLS Lift Capabilities and Configurations" (PDF). NASA. April 29, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 21, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
- ^ "RS-25 engine assignments". The Planetary Society. Archived from the original on August 17, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ^ Sloss, Philip (November 18, 2025). "L3Harris testing brand new RS-25 engines for future Artemis launches". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
- ^ "SLS Block 1 Crew, Block 1B Crew, Block 1B Cargo and Block 2 Cargo Evolution". NASA. August 21, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
- ^ Rincon, Paul (November 10, 2021). "NASA's Orion spacecraft: A guide". BBC. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
- ^ Brown, Mike (March 15, 2022). "NASA Lunar Gateway: Launch Window, Specs, and Orbit of the Moon's Space Station". Inverse. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
- ^ Foust, Jeff (February 10, 2021). "NASA selects Falcon Heavy to launch first Gateway elements". SpaceNews. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
- ^ "Artemis 4 mission will still involve landing on the Moon". Universe Space Tech. October 31, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
- ^ a b Smith, Marcia (June 9, 2022). "NASA IG Slams Bechtel on Mobile Launcher 2". Space Policy Online. Retrieved December 3, 2022.