NASA’s core stage for the Artemis III mission arrived at Kennedy Space Center on April 28, 2026, after being transported via the Pegasus barge from the Port of Jacksonville. The massive component, part of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, was offloaded and moved into the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) for integration. Separately, the Artemis II crew module returned to KSC on April 28 for post-flight analysis following its successful test flight around the Moon in late 2025. The Artemis II mission, which carried astronauts Reid Wiseman, Kjell Lindgren, and Jessica Meir on a 10-day journey, marks a critical step toward the Artemis III mission’s goal of landing the first woman and person of color on the Moon’s south pole. The Artemis III core stage, 212 feet tall when fully assembled, will be placed horizontally in the VAB’s transfer aisle before being lifted into High Bay 2. There, it will be connected to the engine section and boat-tail, which were integrated in August 2025. Engineers are working to complete the rocket’s assembly ahead of the planned 2027 launch window. The Artemis II capsule’s return allows NASA teams to inspect the spacecraft’s performance after its historic flight, which included a 13-day mission that tested systems for future lunar landings. The capsule’s analysis will inform adjustments for Artemis III, which aims to deliver the first crewed landing since Apollo 17 in 1972. With hardware now on-site, KSC officials said the agency is on track to meet its timeline for the next mission, though exact launch dates remain pending final reviews. The Artemis III mission is expected to include a stay on the Moon’s surface, with astronauts conducting scientific research and testing technologies for long-term lunar exploration.