Artemis plan retools: NASA won't use Mobile Launcher 2
NASA says it will not use the Exploration Upper Stage or Mobile Launcher 2 for Artemis, halting development of those components and continuing with Mobile Launcher 1 for the first three SLS missions. Artemis IV and V had been tied to a taller Block 1B with ML2, which is now sidelined or repurposed as plans shift toward standardization to improve launch cadence. The agency is reevaluating the second stage, with Artemis II possible to launch by April 1, 2026 and Artemis III targeted for mid-2027; overall Artemis costs have surpassed $100 billion as delays and changes persist.