Artemis IV
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For this mission, a [[Space Launch System]] (SLS) rocket will send an [[Orion (spacecraft)|Orion]] spacecraft carrying the four [[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 (spacecraft)|Blue Moon]]—into [[lunar orbit]] before the crew launch. When Orion docks with the lander, two astronauts will transfer to it, descend to the lunar surface and conduct [[extravehicular activities]] there.{{Cite web | title=Artemis IV | url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission/artemis-iv/ | website=nasa.gov | access-date=April 4, 2026}} They will then ascend back to the Orion waiting in lunar orbit, which will return the four astronauts to Earth. {{As of|2026|03}}, NASA is targeting early 2028 for launch.{{Cite web |last=Warner |first=Cheryl |date=March 3, 2026 |title=NASA Strengthens Artemis: Adds Mission, Refines Overall Architecture |url=https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/esdmd/nasa-strengthens-artemis-adds-mission-refines-overall-architecture/ |access-date=March 3, 2026 |website=NASA }} |
For this mission, a [[Space Launch System]] (SLS) rocket will send an [[Orion (spacecraft)|Orion]] spacecraft carrying the four [[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 (spacecraft)|Blue Moon]]—into [[lunar orbit]] before the crew launch. When Orion docks with the lander, two astronauts will transfer to it, descend to the lunar surface and conduct [[extravehicular activities]] there.{{Cite web | title=Artemis IV | url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission/artemis-iv/ | website=nasa.gov | access-date=April 4, 2026}} They will then ascend back to the Orion waiting in lunar orbit, which will return the four astronauts to Earth. {{As of|2026|03}}, NASA is targeting early 2028 for launch.{{Cite web |last=Warner |first=Cheryl |date=March 3, 2026 |title=NASA Strengthens Artemis: Adds Mission, Refines Overall Architecture |url=https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/esdmd/nasa-strengthens-artemis-adds-mission-refines-overall-architecture/ |access-date=March 3, 2026 |website=NASA }} |
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Before October 2022, the goal for Artemis IV was simply to deliver the [[Lunar I-Hab|I-HAB]] module to the [[Lunar Gateway]]. Between October 2022 and February 2026, it was set to be the second lunar landing of the Artemis program, after the planned [[Artemis III]] |
Before October 2022, the goal for Artemis IV was simply to deliver the [[Lunar I-Hab|I-HAB]] module to the [[Lunar Gateway]]. Between October 2022 and February 2026, it was set to be the second lunar landing of the Artemis program, after the planned [[Artemis III]].{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=October 30, 2022 |title=Lunar landing restored for Artemis 4 mission - SpaceNews |url=https://spacenews.com/lunar-landing-restored-for-artemis-4-mission/ |url-status=live |access-date=April 5, 2026 |website=SpaceNews}} In February 2026, this mission became the first planned lunar landing of the program, with a planned launch date of early 2028, and the Lunar Gateway was cancelled in March 2026.{{Cite web |last=Cameron |first=Claire |title=NASA scraps 2027 Artemis III moon landing in favor of 2028 mission |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/nasa-scraps-2027-artemis-iii-moon-landing-in-favor-of-2028-mission/ |access-date=2026-04-07 |website=Scientific American |language=en}} |
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== Overview == |
== Overview == |
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