ByNatalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Artemis mission delayed Artemis II crew members (from left) CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, and NASA astronauts Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Reid Wiseman walk out of Astronaut Crew Quarters inside the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building to the Artemis crew transportation vehicles prior to traveling to Launch Pad 39B as part of an integrated ground systems test at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, Sept. 20, to test the crew timeline for launch day. (NASA)
ByNatalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
NASA has adjusted the Artemis timeline, delaying getting Americans back to the moon.
The Artemis II mission was supposed to launch from Florida’s Space Coast in November, WFTV reported. It will now be pushed back almost a year until September 2025.
Artemis II is the first crewed mission around the moon and will be followed by Artemis III which will be the first lunar landing since 1972′s Apollo 17 is now scheduled for September 2026.
Artemis III will land the first woman and first person of color on the moon’s surface, near the lunar South Pole, NASA said.
“We are returning to the Moon in a way we never have before, and the safety of our astronauts is NASA’s top priority as we prepare for future Artemis missions,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a news release. “We’ve 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.”
NASA cited ensuring crew safety as the reason for the delay. The first launch of the Orion spacecraft will test environmental control and life support and tests leading up to the launch found issues that need time to resolve, including a battery issue and a problem with a circuitry component used on the air ventilation and temperature control systems.
There is also an ongoing investigation into an issue with the spacecraft’s heat shield which had an “unexpected loss of char layer pieces.”
“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,” Catherine Koerner, associate administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, said in a news release. “We are resolving challenges associated with first-time capabilities and operations, and we are closer than ever to establishing sustained exploration of Earth’s nearest neighbor under Artemis.”
Artemis IV is scheduled for 2028 and will be the first mission to the Gateway lunar space station. The launch of the first integrated elements for the Gateway had been planned for October 2025 and that plan is currently under review to “better align that launch with the Artemis IV mission.”
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Artemis I launch CAPE CANAVERAL, FL - NOVEMBER 15: Ground fog covers the Kennedy Space Center Press Site as a photographer lines up his shot toward the Artemis 1 moon rocket and the Orion spacecraft poised on Launch Pad 39B November 15, 2022, as the countdown for the third launch attempt continues at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. NASA's Artemis 1 mission is the first test of the agency's deep space exploration systems sending the unmanned Orion spacecraft to orbit the moon several times and return back to earth. (Photo by Red Huber/Getty Images) (Red Huber/Getty Images)
NASA Prepares For Belated Launch Of Artemis I Orion Spacecraft CAPE CANAVERAL, FL - NOVEMBER 15: The Artemis 1 moon rocket and the Orion spacecraft poised on Launch Pad 39B November 15, 2022 as the countdown for the third launch attempt continues at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. NASA's Artemis 1 mission is the first test of the agency's deep space exploration systems sending the unmanned Orion spacecraft to orbit the moon several times and return back to earth. (Photo by Red Huber/Getty Images) (Red Huber/Getty Images)
Artemis I Prelaunch KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - NOVEMBER 15: In this handout provided by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), support crew for the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard check to make sure all connections and valves remain tight at Launch Pad 39B in preparation for launch November 15, 2022, at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. NASA's Artemis I flight test is the first integrated test of the agency's deep space exploration systems: the Orion spacecraft, SLS rocket, and supporting ground systems. Launch of the uncrewed flight is targeted for no earlier than November 16 at 1:04 a.m. EST. (Photo by Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images) (NASA/Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images)
NASA Prepares For Belated Launch Of Artemis I Orion Spacecraft CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 15: NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft attached sits on launch pad 39B as final preparations are made for the Artemis I mission at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on November 15, 2022 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. NASA is making its third attempt to launch the unmanned Artemis I mission to the moon following a series of technical and weather delays. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
NASA Prepares For Belated Launch Of Artemis I Orion Spacecraft CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 15: Excess gas is burned off next to NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft attached as it rests on launch pad 39B as final preparations are made for the Artemis I mission at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on November 15, 2022 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. NASA is making its third attempt to launch the unmanned Artemis I mission to the moon following a series of technical and weather delays. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Artemis I Launches After Several Failed Attempts CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 16: NASA’s Artemis I Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, with the Orion capsule attached, launches at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on November 16, 2022 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Artemis I mission will send the uncrewed spacecraft around the moon to test the vehicle's propulsion, navigation and power systems as a precursor to later crewed mission to the lunar surface. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Artemis I Launch KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - NOVEMBER 16: In this handout provided by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), NASAs Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft launches on the Artemis I flight test, from Launch Complex 39B on November 16, 2022, at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. NASAs Artemis I mission is the first integrated flight test of the agencys deep space exploration systems: the Orion spacecraft, Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, and ground systems. SLS and Orion launched at 1:47am ET from Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center. (Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images) (NASA/Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images)
Artemis I Launches After Several Failed Attempts CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 16: NASA’s Artemis I Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, with the Orion capsule attached, launches at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on November 16, 2022 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Artemis I mission will send the uncrewed spacecraft around the moon to test the vehicle's propulsion, navigation and power systems as a precursor to later crewed mission to the lunar surface. (Photo by Red Huber/Getty Images) (Red Huber/Getty Images)
Artemis I Launches After Several Failed Attempts CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 16: NASA’s Artemis I Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, with the Orion capsule attached, launches at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on November 16, 2022 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Artemis I mission will send the uncrewed spacecraft around the moon to test the vehicle's propulsion, navigation and power systems as a precursor to later crewed mission to the lunar surface. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Artemis I Launches After Several Failed Attempts CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 16: NASA’s Artemis I Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, with the Orion capsule attached, launches at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on November 16, 2022 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Artemis I mission will send the uncrewed spacecraft around the moon to test the vehicle's propulsion, navigation and power systems as a precursor to later crewed mission to the lunar surface. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) (WIN MCNAMEE/Getty Images)
Artemis I Launches After Several Failed Attempts CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 16: NASA’s Artemis I Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, with the Orion capsule attached, launches at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on November 16, 2022 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Artemis I mission will send the uncrewed spacecraft around the moon to test the vehicle's propulsion, navigation and power systems as a precursor to later crewed mission to the lunar surface. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) (WIN MCNAMEE/Getty Images)
Artemis I Prelaunch KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - NOVEMBER 15: In this handout provided by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), guests at the Banana Creek viewing site are seen as they await the launch of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard at Launch Pad 39B November 15, 2022, at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. NASA's Artemis I flight test is the first integrated test of the agency's deep space exploration systems: the Orion spacecraft, SLS rocket, and supporting ground systems. Launch of the uncrewed flight is targeted for no earlier than November 16 at 1:04 a.m. EST. (Photo by Keegan Barber/NASA via Getty Images) (NASA/Keegan Barber/NASA via Getty Images)
Artemis I Launch KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - NOVEMBER 16: In this handout provided by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), guests at the Banana Creek viewing site watch the launch of NASAs Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft on the Artemis I flight test, from Launch Complex 39B on November 16, 2022, at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. NASAs Artemis I mission is the first integrated flight test of the agencys deep space exploration systems: the Orion spacecraft, Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, and ground systems. SLS and Orion launched at 1:47am ET from Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center. (Photo by Keegan Barber/NASA via Getty Images) (NASA/Keegan Barber/NASA via Getty Images)
Artemis I Launches After Several Failed Attempts KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - NOVEMBER 16: In this handout provided by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), guests watch the launch of NASAs Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft on the Artemis I flight test, from Launch Complex 39B on November 16, 2022, at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. NASAs Artemis I mission is the first integrated flight test of the agencys deep space exploration systems: the Orion spacecraft, Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, and ground systems. SLS and Orion launched at 1:47am ET from Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center. (Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images) (NASA/Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images)
Artemis I Launches After Several Failed Attempts KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - NOVEMBER 16: In this handout provided by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), NASAs Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft launches on the Artemis I flight test, from Launch Complex 39B on November 16, 2022, at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. NASAs Artemis I mission is the first integrated flight test of the agencys deep space exploration systems: the Orion spacecraft, Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, and ground systems. SLS and Orion launched at 1:47am ET from Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center. (Photo by Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images) (NASA/Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images)
Artemis I Launches After Several Failed Attempts KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - NOVEMBER 16: In this handout provided by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), guests watch the launch of NASAs Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft on the Artemis I flight test, from Launch Complex 39B on November 16, 2022, at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. NASAs Artemis I mission is the first integrated flight test of the agencys deep space exploration systems: the Orion spacecraft, Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, and ground systems. SLS and Orion launched at 1:47am ET from Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center. (Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images) (NASA/Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images)
