NASA Redesigns Artemis III: No Longer Going to the Moon, But More Important (xataka.com)

• Artemis III abandons lunar landing, will test docking in LEO.
• SLS upper stage removed, structural spacer added; stage reused for Artemis IV.
• Crew will transfer from Orion to SpaceX/Blue Origin HLS for tests.

"NASA has fundamentally redesigned Artemis III, shifting from a lunar landing mission to a comprehensive test in low Earth orbit. The mission will now focus on docking and crew transfer operations between Orion and the SpaceX and Blue Origin Human Landing Systems (HLS) without leaving Earth orbit. This change reduces costs and risks while increasing launch opportunities. The SLS rocket's cryogenic upper stage has been removed and replaced with a structural spacer; that stage will be used for Artemis IV. Astronauts will spend more time in space to test life support systems. The redesign prioritizes safety and methodical progress for future crewed lunar missions."