NASA has confirmed delays in its plans to return humans to the lunar surface and has postponed the Artemis II mission. The new launch date for the mission, now expected to be no earlier than April 2026, pushes back the next lunar landing to mid-2027.
The delays come after a series of issues with the Orion capsule’s heat shield, which experienced erosion during its successful launch and return to Earth in November 2022. NASA is now working to rectify this issue and ensure that the heat shield performs safely.
Astronauts Christina Koch and Victor Glover will be part of the Artemis II mission, making it a historic first for women and people of color to travel to deep space. The mission will also see the furthest humans have traveled in over 50 years.
The delays are not solely due to the heat shield issue but also other concerns, including the development of a lunar landing vehicle and the testing of SpaceX’s Starship. NASA is working closely with private companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin to address these issues before the next lunar landing mission.
While there is uncertainty surrounding the Artemis III mission, NASA is committed to ensuring the safety of its astronauts. The agency will continue to work towards resolving the outstanding challenges and will provide updates on the status of the missions in due course.
Source: https://www.iflscience.com/nasa-announces-return-to-moon-missions-delayed-heres-what-to-know-77120