Moon mission delayed? NASA adds new step before landing
Photo: NASA spacecraft (Getty Images)
NASA chief Jared Isaacman said the timeline for the Artemis program is being revised, with the agency introducing an additional testing phase in Earth orbit and postponing the crewed Moon landing to 2028, according to the BBC.
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New step before Moon mission
Under the updated plan, Artemis III, previously expected to include a landing, will instead focus in 2027 on testing docking between the Orion spacecraft and the lunar lander in Earth orbit.
Isaacman said the approach will reduce risks for the crew and allow NASA to maintain a steady launch cadence without long pauses in the program.
According to the revised roadmap, the first human landing on the Moon in more than half a century is now expected no earlier than 2028 as part of Artemis IV or Artemis V.
The additional mission will enable testing of rendezvous systems and new spacesuits during spacewalks before they are used on the lunar surface.
NASA’s chief said validating technologies near Earth is safer than attempting an immediate landing after a long gap in SLS rocket operations.
Delays and competition
The timeline changes are partly linked to delays in the development of SpaceX’s Starship, which is expected to deliver the lunar landing system.
NASA is also working with Blue Origin as an alternative provider to help accelerate progress.
Preparations for the Artemis II lunar flyby have been complicated by a helium leak, pushing the launch to April and requiring the rocket to return to the assembly facility for repairs.
NASA recently introduced ten new astronaut candidates selected from more than 8,000 applicants, who will form part of the next generation of crews for major missions, including the return to the Moon and future human expeditions to Mars.
