Artemis IV
Now the first potential crewed lunar landing under Artemis, targeting 2028.
Last refreshed: 2 April 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Will America land on the Moon before China does?
Latest on Artemis IV
- When will Artemis IV launch?
- Artemis IV is targeting 2028 as the first potential crewed lunar landing under the revised Artemis architecture.Source: quick_facts
- Is Artemis IV the first Moon landing mission?
- Yes, under the revised programme. Artemis III was redesignated to a LEO lander test in February 2026, making Artemis IV the first potential crewed lunar landing.Source: background
- Why was Artemis IV moved up?
- Artemis III was redesignated to a LEO test after Isaacman cancelled Block 1B/2 upgrades in February 2026, so Artemis IV inherited the lunar landing objective.Source: background
- Will the US land on the Moon before China?
- NASA targets Artemis IV for 2028; RAND assessed China's 2030 goal as credible. The US margin is narrow given Artemis's history of 5-7 year delays.Source: background
- What rocket will Artemis IV use?
- SLS Block 1 with a ULA Centaur V upper stage, selected in March 2026 following the cancellation of the Block 1B upgrade.Source: quick_facts
Background
Artemis IV is now the first potential crewed lunar landing in the programme, targeting 2028, after Artemis III was redesignated to a low-Earth-orbit lander test in February 2026. It will fly on SLS Block 1 with a ULA Centaur V upper stage, selected March 2026. related event
The mission moved forward in the sequence when NASA administrator Jared Isaacman cancelled the Block 1B and Block 2 SLS upgrades and restructured the Artemis manifest. Originally a later mission, Artemis IV inherited the lunar landing objective that Artemis III no longer carries.
The 2028 target carries zero margin given Artemis's history of 5-7 year delays. If Artemis IV slips, China could achieve a crewed lunar landing before the United States. Congress has mandated Artemis funding through 2029, but schedule pressure is acute and growing.
