“You don’t go from one uncrewed launch of SLS [Artemis I], wait three years, go around the Moon [Artemis II], wait three years and land on it…I would certainly much rather have the astronauts testing out the integrated systems of the lander and Orion in low-Earth orbit than on the Moon.”
-Statement by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman regarding the addition of one more Artemis mission – let’s call it Artemis III-A – to test out the lunar lander before the crew actually heads to the Moon – or Artemis III-B. The Moon landing itself is still planned for 2028, but we know how these dates continue to slip. SpaceX with its Starship issues is not making it any easier. Just like SpaceX saved the Starliner crew from a problem Boeing capsule, Blue Origin may eventually save the Artemis astronauts from a problem SpaceX rocket.
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