With Orion still flying, NASA is nearing key decisions about Artemis III

Artemis II will splash down Friday evening in the Pacific off San Diego.

NASA revised its Artemis timeline six weeks ago to add a mission before lunar landings.

The new mission, Artemis III, is planned to stay in Earth orbit to reduce risk for Artemis IV.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and senior officials held first Artemis III design talks Tuesday and discussed LEO (160–2,000 km) vs HEO (>36,000 km).

Orion will launch on an SLS rocket from Florida to rendezvous with Human Landing Systems (Starship upper stage and Blue Moon); a LEO rendezvous could avoid using the ICPS, while a higher orbit would require ICPS.