More Artemis Delays Announced

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Image (Credit): The recovered Orion heat shield at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (NASA)

Orion heat shield issues have contributed to more delays with the Artemis II (crewed capsule around the Moon) and Artemis III (crewed capsule lands on the Moon) missions. The Artemis II launch has moved from September 2025 to April 2026, while the Artemis III launch has moved from 2026 to mid-2027.

NASA still has plenty of time to beat the China back to the Moon given that China is still aiming for a 2030 human landing on the lunar surface. Even so, this is not a good time to be highlighting the engineering weaknesses in the Artemis program. We know that the incoming administration is likely to ask a lot of questions.

You can watch the entire NASA news conference discussing the delays here.

Space Quote: Questions about the Space Launch System

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Image (Credit): NASA’s Space Launch System on the tarmac. (NASA)

“To be clear, we are far from anything being settled, but based on what I’m hearing it seems at least 50-50 that Nasa’s Space Launch System rocket will be canceled.”

-Comment by US space journalist Eric Berger as quoted in an article from The Conversation titled “Trump May Cancel NASA’s Powerful SLS Moon Rocket—What That Would Mean for Elon Musk and the Future of Space Travel.” The bottom line in the story is that SpaceX is not ready to replace the main component of the Artemis program, meaning any attempt to scrap the rocket will most likely scrap U.S. attempts to get back to the Moon before the Chinese.

Holiday Fun from NASA

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Image (Credit): Fireplace video for home entertainment. (NASA)

If you are looking for a unique way to celebrate the holidays, consider using this NASA-provided fireplace video to warm your heart. You can gain access to it here.

Yes, NASA has a sense of humor.

It is also a nice pitch for the Artemis missions.

Enjoy.

Space Quote: A Rolls Royce on the Moon?

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Image (Credit): Artist’s rendering of a lunar base. (NASA)

“We believe once governments and the Artemis missions have re-established human presence on the moon, commercial services will follow that…every operation on the moon will require power”.

-Statement by Jake Thompson, director of novel nuclear and special projects at Rolls-Royce, in a Financial Times article. Rolls Royce is working on a micro nuclear reactor for use on space missions.

Sixth Test of the Starship and More

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Image (Credit): The return of the Starship booster on November 19, 2024. It splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico. (SpaceX)

The sixth test of SpaceX’s Starship was a success this past Tuesday, even without the repeated stunt of a tower capturing the booster rocket. The launch from the Starbase pad in Brownsville, Texas allowed SpaceX to test additional features related to the rocket, including igniting one of its Raptor engines while in space. Overall, it was a quick turnaround from another successful test flight last month.

SpaceX also received additional good news this week when it learned that Colorado-based Lunar Outpost selected SpaceX’s Starship as the party to deliver its lunar rover to the Moon. Lunar Outpost is one of several companies working with NASA to ensure a rover is on the lunar surface as part of the Artemis mission. NASA has yet to select one or more companies to build and test the rovers on the Moon.

All of this is good news for SpaceX and NASA, assuming the Starship stays on schedule, NASA funding of Artemis continues, and a new administration in DC continues to support the Artemis approach.