NASA has announced today, the 9th of January 2024, that the Artemis 2 and 3 missions have been delayed. This information was announced in a media teleconference hosted by NASA with Bill Nelson, the administrator of NASA, Jim Free, the Associate administrator of NASA, Catherine Koerner, Associate Administrator for Exploration Systems Development, and Amit Kshatriya, Deputy Associate Administrator of NASA's Moon to Mars Program, speaking to the public and press. Various representatives from companies working with NASA for the Artemis program were also on the teleconference available to answer questions.
The Artemis 2 mission will now take place in September 2025, and Artemis 3 is now scheduled for September 2026. The Artemis 4 mission is still planned to occur in September of 2028.
The delays are reportedly due to problems associated with first-time developments, operations, and integration according to NASA.
Artemis 2 is still planned to carry crew and perform its flyby mission of the Moon. NASA currently does not plan to fly a mission like Apollo 8, a mission that orbited the Moon with a crew.
NASA is also reportedly looking into delaying Artemis 3 depending on the outcome and data of Artemis 2. The agency also believes SpaceX and Axiom Space need more time to develop their lander and spacesuits respectively.
When asked about Starship refueling during the teleconference Jessica Jensen, from SpaceX, answered saying that roughly ten flights would be needed to achieve crewed landing on the Moon. Bill Nelson also believes it would take roughly ten flights.
SpaceX is also reportedly tracking propellant transfer capabilities with test flights planned for 2024 and 2025. The company reportedly will not perform any propellant transfer tests in the third flight test of Starship, they also believe the flight will occur in February.
NASA's Jim Free also said that if Starship isn't ready for Artemis 3 the flight plan may change.
When asked about China's plan to land on the moon before the United States returns, Administrator Bill Nelson expressed no concern about the possibility. China currently plans to land a crew on the Moon before 2030.
What is the Artemis 2 mission?
NASA's Artemis 2 mission is a planned lunar flyby mission of the Moon. This would be the first crewed mission beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972.
The mission will utilize NASA's Space Launch System rocket to carry Reid Wiseman, Victor Gloover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen around the Moon inside NASA's Orion spacecraft.
The mission currently has a planned duration of ten days and passing by the Moon at a distance of 10,300 kilometers.
