Artemis III

Artemis III is NASA's planned 2027 crewed demonstration mission in low Earth orbit. SLS will launch Randy Bresnik, Luca Parmitano, Andre Douglas, and Frank Rubio aboard Orion from Launch Complex 39B. NASA's current overview says the mission will test one or both human landing systems in low Earth orbit. An earlier operational concept envisioned Orion rendezvousing and docking first with a Blue Origin Blue Moon pathfinder for about two days of tests, then with a SpaceX Starship pathfinder for about one day; which systems fly and the sequence remain subject to NASA refinement. The mission is intended to test docking, integrated spacecraft interfaces, life support, communications, propulsion, crew operations, and Orion's upgraded heat shield before the Artemis IV lunar landing.