Get ready for an exciting update on NASA’s Artemis 3 mission! Set to return humans to the Moon in 2025, this mission might not involve a crewed landing after all, according to an official statement on Tuesday.
Jim Free, the space agency’s associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, revealed during a briefing that certain key elements, particularly the landing system being developed by SpaceX, need to be in place for the mission to proceed as planned.
If the landing system is not ready on time, Free stated, “We may end up flying a different mission.”
Under the Artemis program, NASA has an ambitious plan to return to the Moon and establish a sustained presence, paving the way for future missions to Mars. The program includes a series of missions of increasing complexity, with Artemis 1 already completed in 2022, and Artemis 2 scheduled for November 2024 with crew on board.
However, it is during the highly anticipated Artemis 3 mission in December 2025 that NASA aims to make its grand return to the Moon with humans for the first time since 1972. This time, the mission will target the lunar south pole, where valuable ice can be harvested and converted into rocket fuel.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has secured the contract for the landing system, based on its prototype Starship rocket. However, the development of Starship is still a work in progress, with an orbital test flight ending in a dramatic explosion in April.
Free mentioned that NASA officials recently visited SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas to assess the progress. While the visit provided valuable insights, Free expressed concerns about the lack of launches and the need for multiple successful launches before the rocket is deemed ready.
Furthermore, delays to Starship have ripple effects, as the spacesuit contractor needs to understand how the suits will interface with the spacecraft, and simulators need to be built for astronauts to familiarize themselves with its systems.
NASA plans to share an update with the public soon, once they have thoroughly reviewed the information gathered during the Starbase visit.
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