NASA Delays Astronaut Moon Mission
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Morning Overview on MSN
NASA finally reveals the date it plans to return humans to the moon
NASA has locked in March 6, 2026, as the earliest date to launch Artemis II, the first crewed mission to fly humans toward the moon since the Apollo era. The four-person crew will ride the Space Launch System rocket and Orion capsule on an approximately 10-day lunar flyby,
Fast forward to the present day. The Space Launch System has flown only once, during the Artemis I mission, and is preparing to fly again with Artemis II. According to the NASA Office of Inspector General, the Space Launch System costs $4 billion per flight, not to speak of the immense amount of money to develop the rocket.
Policymakers assess the Lunar Gateway’s role in Artemis amid funding debates, international commitments, and plans for sustained lunar missions and future Mars exploration.
Starlust on MSN
NASA's Artemis program could benefit from this new map of small mare ridges on the Moon
The map unveils small mare ridges, geologically young features that will aid the selection of landing sites for future Moon missions.