NASA giving update about Artemis moon plans on Oct. 23: Watch it live

NASA’s October 23 press conference will update the public on its Artemis moon plans. The briefing matters because Artemis III is intended to test systems needed for future lunar landings, while NASA is working toward returning American astronauts to the Moon by 2028.

The update will focus on Artemis III, targeted for mid-2027. Four astronauts will fly to low Earth orbit and test rendezvous and docking between Orion and one or both private lunar landers selected by NASA: SpaceX’s Starship and Blue Origin’s Blue Moon.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya, and Artemis program manager Jeremy Parsons will participate. The agency also plans Artemis IV for early 2028, when astronauts could land near the lunar south pole. The lander choice remains unsettled and depends on development progress and Artemis III results.

The Artemis program is NASA’s effort to return American astronauts to the Moon and establish a moon base. It matters because the agency sees lunar exploration as a long-term campaign, not a single landing. The plan requires many robotic and crewed missions.

Artemis III is a key preparation mission. Four astronauts will travel to low Earth orbit, where NASA plans to test rendezvous and docking between Orion and one or both private spacecraft chosen as crewed lunar landers. Those spacecraft are SpaceX’s Starship and Blue Origin’s Blue Moon.

Artemis IV is planned to follow in early 2028. It is intended to land astronauts near the lunar south pole, marking the first crewed Moon touchdown since Apollo 17 in 1972. Further landings would support NASA’s planned lunar base, although the article does not provide a complete mission schedule.

Artemis III will send four astronauts to low Earth orbit, where it will test critical systems for future lunar landings. The mission is important because NASA needs to prove that its spacecraft can work together before attempting more ambitious crewed operations near the Moon.

The central demonstration is rendezvous and docking between NASA’s Orion capsule and one or both private lunar landers. NASA selected SpaceX’s Starship and Blue Origin’s Blue Moon for the Artemis program’s crewed lander role. The spacecraft must meet in orbit and connect so astronauts can use the combined system as planned.

Artemis III is targeted for mid-2027. Its results could influence Artemis IV, including which lander flies on that mission. Artemis IV is planned for early 2028 and would land astronauts near the lunar south pole, if development and testing proceed successfully.

Artemis III is planned to carry four astronauts to low Earth orbit. The mission centers on NASA’s Orion capsule and one or both private spacecraft selected as crewed lunar landers. That means the mission could involve Orion plus either one lander or both landers, depending on the plan.

The possible landers are SpaceX’s Starship and Blue Origin’s Blue Moon. Artemis III will test rendezvous and docking between Orion and one or both of them. In practical terms, the spacecraft must meet and connect in orbit, allowing NASA to test a basic operation needed for future lunar missions.

The article does not confirm the final spacecraft combination. It says Artemis III is targeted for mid-2027, while the Artemis IV lander choice remains unclear. That later decision depends on how both landers develop and what happens during Artemis III.

NASA is currently preparing Artemis III for mid-2027. That mission will send four astronauts to low Earth orbit and test systems for future lunar landings. It is a preparation step rather than the crewed lunar touchdown described for Artemis IV.

Artemis IV is planned for early 2028. If all goes to plan, it will land astronauts near the lunar south pole. The mission would use the results of Artemis III, including its rendezvous and docking test, while NASA continues developing its possible lunar landers.

The article identifies Apollo 17 in 1972 as the last crewed Moon touchdown. It does not state an exact number of elapsed years, but it describes the gap as reaching back to 1972. Artemis IV would therefore mark the return of crewed lunar landings after that long interval.

NASA has two possible crewed lunar landers for Artemis: SpaceX’s Starship and Blue Origin’s Blue Moon. Choosing between them matters because Artemis IV is intended to land astronauts near the lunar south pole, so NASA needs a lander ready for that mission.

The article says the Artemis IV choice depends on how each lander’s development progresses and what happens during Artemis III. Artemis III will test rendezvous and docking between Orion and one or both landers in low Earth orbit. Those tests can provide important evidence about the spacecraft and their readiness.

NASA therefore has not announced a final Artemis IV lander. The decision remains open while both private spacecraft advance through development. Artemis III is targeted for mid-2027, and Artemis IV is planned for early 2028, if all goes to plan.

Rendezvous and docking are difficult because two spacecraft must match position, speed, and direction while orbiting Earth. Even small navigation or timing errors can cause them to miss each other. Docking also requires a carefully controlled approach and a secure connection. The article itself does not explain these technical challenges; this explanation uses established spaceflight knowledge.

For Artemis III, Orion will practice meeting and docking with one or both possible lunar landers in low Earth orbit. The spacecraft must coordinate their movements before connecting. This creates a direct test of a key operation NASA expects to need during later lunar missions.

These abilities support a sustained human presence because a lunar campaign may involve separate vehicles with different jobs. Reliable connections can let crews transfer between spacecraft or use combined systems. In the article, successful testing would support Artemis IV, later landings, and NASA’s planned moon base.