NASA announces its Artemis III crew, which will test important equipment and systems in Earth orbit and is testing public opinion

The Artemis program’s timeline and architecture has changed over the past year, so Artemis III will not land on the lunar surface.

By: Margaret Landis, Arizona State University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: June 18, 2026

Words: 1,514

Last Updated: 1 month ago

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By Margaret Landis, Arizona State University

Over the span of a few short months in 2026, NASA’s Artemis III mission lost its original purpose, but gained a crew and some controversy over its composition.

In February 2026, as its predecessor Artemis II was experiencing launch delays, NASA announced the addition of a mission between Artemis II and the first Artemis lunar landing, originally set for Artemis III. This change meant Artemis III would no …

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