# NASA revises Artemis plans for 2028 lunar landing and Orion rendezvous

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/nasa-updates-lander-plans-for-moon-landings-finally-solves-long-festering-orion-issue/
- Published: 2026-10-23T22:48:25+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-23T23:02:42+00:00
- Original publisher: Ars Technica
- Original article: https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/10/nasa-updates-lander-plans-for-moon-landings-finally-solves-long-festering-orion-issue/
- Topics: Software, Space, Technology

## Key points

- NASA has changed how Orion will connect with lunar landers.
- SpaceX’s Starship refuelling needs remain uncertain.
- Artemis III is planned for 2027 and a landing for 2028.

## Summary

NASA has revised its plans for Artemis, aiming to land astronauts on the Moon in 2028 while changing how Orion will meet the lunar landers. The updated approach is intended to simplify mission requirements and help SpaceX and Blue Origin make progress, though major technical uncertainties remain.

For SpaceX, Starship would refuel in low Earth orbit, then dock with Orion in high Earth orbit; two of Orion’s four astronauts would transfer to Starship for the landing. NASA has not confirmed how many tanker launches refuelling will require: a safety panel estimated about 22, while Elon Musk has suggested six to eight, which NASA’s administrator called a possible eventual target. Blue Origin’s plan uses four New Glenn launches and transfer stages, with no vehicle-to-vehicle refuelling for initial missions. NASA still expects an Artemis III docking demonstration near Earth in summer 2027, followed by the Artemis IV lunar landing in 2028.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.