NASA leaders said Artemis III is still scheduled for a summer 2027 launch, keeping the agency on pace for a key step in its effort to return American astronauts to the moon.

During an update shared this afternoon, NASA officials said teams are moving “aggressively” to prepare for the mission. Artemis III is expected to send four astronauts to space as the agency continues testing the systems, procedures and landers needed for lunar missions.

The update comes as the Artemis program has faced years of delays and billions of dollars in added costs. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the agency is focused on improving efficiency as it works toward its moon goals.

“We will simply not accept that great achievements simply require more time and more money,” Isaacman said.

NASA officials pointed to progress in processing work tied to the mission. Jeremy Parsons, NASA’s Artemis program manager, said teams have reduced some preparation timelines.

“We’re seeing our processing times cut in half in some cases,” Parsons said.

Parsons said crews were able to cut in half the time it took to prepare booster segments for stacking. He also said booster stacking operations were cut by 20%.

Artemis III is considered a crucial mission in NASA’s broader plan to return American astronauts to the lunar surface. Leaders said they are still working with 2028 in mind as the target year for that return.

For now, NASA says the next major milestone remains a summer 2027 launch.