NASA chief optimistic Artemis 3 target set for 2027 as lunar mission advances

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman expressed strong confidence that Artemis 3 will launch in 2027, outlining a three-launch sequence at Kennedy Space Center: Blue Origin’s New Glenn will carry a test version of its Blue Moon Mark 2 lander into low Earth orbit, followed days later by the SLS/Orion stack that will rendezvous with the lander; SpaceX’s Starship Version 3 will serve as the docking target for Orion, with rollout timing tied to continued progress on SLS and lander testing. The Max Power air- and-space expo, run by private sponsors, will be held at KSC facilities in November 2026 and is not NASA-funded. Artemis 4 remains in planning with the crewed landing system to be chosen later.