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NASA to fly no cubesat secondary payloads on Artemis 3

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NASA will omit cubesat secondary payloads from Artemis 3 after carrying small satellites on the first two Space Launch System missions. The change reduces the mission’s rideshare activity and underscores the evolving payload priorities for the next Artemis flight to the Moon.

Discovered 2026-08-25T12:10:40.136356-07:00 | 2026-08-25T12:10:40.136356-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

  • Artemis 3 will represent a shift from the secondary-payload approach used on the first two SLS missions, with no cubesats planned for the flight.
  • The decision affects small-satellite operators and researchers that rely on rideshare opportunities to reach lunar or deep-space destinations.
  • It provides an early signal of how NASA is prioritizing payloads and mission objectives for the next Artemis Moon flight.

Reported By

SpaceNews.com
Sources Tracked
1
First Seen
2026-08-25T12:10:40.136356-07:00
Latest Update
2026-08-25T12:10:40.136356-07:00
Coverage
Space

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