January 9, 2024
2 mins read

NASA Delays Crewed Flight to 2025

The space agency said that ensuring crew safety is the primary driver for the Artemis II schedule changes…reports Asian Lite News

The US space agency has pushed back its manned Artemis mission to the Moon to 2025 that will send the first woman and first person of colour on the lunar surface.

NASA will now target September 2025 for Artemis II, the first crewed Artemis mission around the Moon, and September 2026 for Artemis III, which is planned to land the first astronauts near the lunar South Pole.

Artemis IV, the first mission to the Gateway lunar space station, remains on track for 2028.

The first mission, Artemis II, was supposed to take place later this year.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement that they have learned a lot since Artemis I, and the success of these early missions relies on “our commercial and international partnerships to further our reach and understanding of humanity’s place in our solar system”.

“Artemis represents what we can accomplish as a nation – and as a global coalition. When we set our sights on what is hard, together, we can achieve what is great,” he added.

The space agency said that ensuring crew safety is the primary driver for the Artemis II schedule changes.

“As the first Artemis flight test with crew aboard the Orion spacecraft, the mission will test critical environmental control and life support systems required to support astronauts,” said NASA.

NASA’s investigation into unexpected loss of char layer pieces from the spacecraft’s heat shield during Artemis I is expected to conclude this spring.

The new timeline for Artemis III, said NASA, aligns with the updated schedule for Artemis II, which ensures the agency can incorporate lessons learned from Artemis II into the next mission, and acknowledges development challenges experienced by NASA’s industry partners.

“We are letting the hardware talk to us so that crew safety drives our decision-making. We will use the Artemis II flight test, and each flight that follows, to reduce risk for future Moon missions,” said Catherine Koerner, associate administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

NASA said that it has asked both Artemis human landing system providers — SpaceX and Blue Origin — to begin applying knowledge gained in developing their systems as part of their existing contracts toward future variations to potentially deliver large cargo on later missions.

“Artemis is a long-term exploration campaign to conduct science at the Moon with astronauts and prepare for future human missions to Mars. That means we must get it right as we develop and fly our foundational systems so that we can safely carry out these missions,” said Amit Kshatriya, manager of NASA’s Moon to Mars Program Office.

ALSO READ-‘US to Include Int’l Astronaut on NASA’s Artemis Moon Mission by 2030’

Previous Story

IT executive, Mayor, state Senator in race for Congress, Samosa Caucus

Next Story

Lloyd Austin Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer

Latest from -Top News

Pakistan FM Due in Bangladesh

During his visit Dar will hold discussions with the Foreign Affairs Advisor Towhid Hossain and also call on Muhammad Yunus…reports Asian Lite News Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar

Balochistan: Where the State Makes People Disappear

The victims include students, journalists, and peaceful protesters, many of whom were abducted from cities such as Karachi and Islamabad….reports Asian Lite News A human rights organisation on Monday revealed that 785

Monsoon Havoc in Pakistan

Since June 26, torrential rains have killed at least 299 people—including 140 children—and injured 715 in Pakistan…reports Asian Lite News Since June 26, torrential monsoon rains have devastated Pakistan, killing at least

Bangladesh’s Dark Turn

With the Awami League outlawed and absent from the electoral fray, a vacuum has emerged — one that has not necessarily been filled with stability….reports Asian Lite News Bangladesh’s political landscape has
Go toTop

Don't Miss

China Masks Military Space Presence, Warns NASA Chief

The NASA chief said he hoped “the Chinese space programme

First images from X-ray mission released

Chandra and IXPE, with different kinds of detectors, capture different