NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced a revised timeline for the Artemis III mission, which will land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon's surface.
The mission is now scheduled for late 2027, a slight delay from the previously announced target date, driven by the need for additional testing of SpaceX's Starship lunar lander.
The Artemis program represents America's return to crewed lunar exploration after more than five decades.
Two astronauts will spend approximately a week on the lunar surface, conducting scientific experiments and testing technologies needed for future Mars missions.
The revised timeline was met with cautious optimism by space policy experts who noted that safety must remain the top priority.