The US space agency NASA has delayed its plans to return astronauts to the Moon.
NASA’s chief, Bill Nelson, announced the Artemis programme’s second mission will now launch in April 2026. Originally, the plan aimed to send astronauts around the Moon in September 2025, but the date has already shifted. This means a lunar landing won’t happen until at least 2027, a year later than expected.
Heat Shield Issue Causes Delay
The delay is necessary to resolve a heat shield problem. During testing, the shield returned excessively charred, eroded, and with visible cracks. Nelson said the safety of the astronauts remains the agency’s top priority.
He stated, “We do not fly until we are ready. We need to conduct the next test flight and do it right.” Engineers believe the issue could be resolved by altering the capsule’s re-entry trajectory, but thorough assessments are required.
Race with China’s Lunar Goals
NASA faces competition from the Chinese space agency, which also aims to send astronauts to the Moon. Nelson expressed confidence that the Artemis programme would reach the lunar surface first. However, he urged NASA’s commercial and international partners to intensify efforts to meet this new timeline.
Nelson said, “We plan to launch Artemis 3 in mid-2027. This will be well ahead of China’s publicly stated target of 2030.”
This delay adds pressure on NASA and its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. Critics have labeled SLS as costly and slow compared to SpaceX’s Starship, a reusable and cheaper alternative developed by Elon Musk’s company.
The nomination of Jared Isaacman by President-elect Donald Trump to lead NASA has raised concerns about potential changes to the Moon programme. Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur and close collaborator with Musk, could bring new perspectives and cost-saving measures to the agency.
Dr Simeon Barber of the Open University warned that the shift in leadership and priorities could affect NASA’s operations. He said, “SLS is an old-school rocket, slow, expensive, and not reusable like Starship. The incoming president might focus on cutting costs.”
Barber added that Isaacman’s leadership could lead to significant shifts within NASA.
