Tag

Artemis

All articles tagged with #artemis

NASA Expands Artemis Cadence Toward Yearly Moon Missions
space33 minutes ago

NASA Expands Artemis Cadence Toward Yearly Moon Missions

NASA announces an accelerated Artemis plan that standardizes vehicle configurations, adds a 2027 Artemis III mission with in-space testing and potential docking with commercial landers, and commits to at least one lunar surface landing every year through 2028 (Artemis IV), while boosting in-house development and workforce to enable a faster, safer launch cadence; Artemis II remains on track with repairs after a helium issue in the interim propulsion stage.

NASA overhauls Artemis to speed lunar return with a standardized SLS
science1 hour ago

NASA overhauls Artemis to speed lunar return with a standardized SLS

NASA announced a sweeping Artemis overhaul: cancel the costly Exploration Upper Stage, standardize the SLS for a higher cadence (about every 10 months), and push more work to commercial lunar landers with SpaceX and Blue Origin so Artemis III won't land on the Moon but will dock Orion with landers in Earth orbit; Artemis IV would be the first lunar landing, with annual missions beginning in mid-2027 and into 2028, while Gateway tower and Moon-base questions stay under review.

Artemis II delayed as Space Launch System rolls back for repairs
space2 days ago

Artemis II delayed as Space Launch System rolls back for repairs

NASA will roll the Space Launch System and Orion back to the Vehicle Assembly Building for repairs after a helium-flow blockage was found in the upper stage, delaying Artemis II’s planned March moon mission to at least April; the 322-foot rocket will be transported slowly on a crawler-transporter, and engineers will replace batteries and the flight termination system as they investigate the issue following a wet dress rehearsal.

Artemis II Goes Old-School with Nikon D5 DSLRs for Its Moon Mission
space2 days ago

Artemis II Goes Old-School with Nikon D5 DSLRs for Its Moon Mission

Artemis II astronauts will carry two Nikon D5 DSLRs from 2016 into the Moon’s vicinity to document the mission, along with personal devices and GoPros for a National Geographic documentary; NASA highlights the D5’s low noise, wide dynamic range, and radiation tolerance as reasons for its selection, while future Artemis missions may use newer cameras. A helium-system issue has delayed the launch to at least April.

Artemis II Faces March Launch Delay as Helium Flow Issue Stalls Countdown
science5 days ago

Artemis II Faces March Launch Delay as Helium Flow Issue Stalls Countdown

NASA says Artemis II's early-March launch window will almost certainly be delayed after engineers detected an interruption in helium flow during final launch checks; the crewed 10-day lunar flyby for four astronauts—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen—will proceed only after the issue is resolved, as Artemis II helps pave the way for Artemis III and a targeted 2028 lunar landing.

Helium hiccup threatens Artemis II’s March crewed Moon mission
science5 days ago

Helium hiccup threatens Artemis II’s March crewed Moon mission

NASA says a new interruption in helium flow to the Space Launch System’s upper stage could delay the March crewed lunar flight (Artemis II); engineers are weighing repairs at the hangar or at the launch pad, following earlier hydrogen-fuel-leak delays. Four astronauts remain in quarantine as NASA reviews data and scrambles to preserve the mission timeline, though the first crewed Moon landing under Artemis is still years away.

Artemis II Targeted for March 6 Launch After Fueling Success
space6 days ago

Artemis II Targeted for March 6 Launch After Fueling Success

NASA plans Artemis II to launch on March 6 after a fueling test cleared delays, sending four astronauts on a 10-day lunar flyby to test systems ahead of Artemis III’s 2028 lunar landing; the crew includes Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen. The article also covers a critical NASA inspector general report on Boeing’s Starliner, noting shortfalls and prompting NASA to withhold flying any crewed Starliner missions until technical issues are resolved.

Global space push gains momentum as Artemis tests and private launches advance
technology7 days ago

Global space push gains momentum as Artemis tests and private launches advance

Rocket Report this week surveys a global push in space capability: governments funding domestic launch startups across Europe and the UAE, progress from Germany’s Rocket Factory Augsburg, and LandSpace/iSpace advancing Chinese launcher efforts. SpaceX restarts Bahamas-based Falcon 9 landings and readies more Starlink missions, while NASA continues to troubleshoot hydrogen leaks on the Space Launch System in preparation for Artemis II and Artemis III. Crew-12 docks with the ISS amid ongoing Crew-11 health issues, and Florida policymakers brace for a Starship era as Cape Canaveral weighs infrastructure impacts. The publication also notes upcoming Falcon 9/Starlink launches and other national programs’ roadmaps (Australasia, Canada, UK, Spain) toward sovereign launch capabilities.

space10 days ago

NASA readies second full fueling test for SLS in Artemis countdown drills

NASA will conduct a second, full wet dress rehearsal (WDR-2) of the Space Launch System at Launch Complex 39B, loading more than 700,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen and counting down to a simulated T-0 around Feb. 19 after a Feb. 12 confidence test that yielded useful data but pointed to a ground equipment issue; a firm launch date will follow a successful WDR-2, with March 6 cited as the earliest possible window.

NASA outlines path for lunar, nuclear, and commercial stations after White House policy order
policy-and-politics10 days ago

NASA outlines path for lunar, nuclear, and commercial stations after White House policy order

NASA says it will lay out details on priorities such as lunar exploration, commercial space stations, and nuclear power in the coming weeks in response to a White House space policy executive order, with procurement milestones for the CLD program and the Fission Surface Power project expected soon; Mars Sample Return remains uncertain as the agency weighs options and funding, aiming to announce timelines about a month after submitting its response.

Artemis II Faces Heat Shield Scrutiny Ahead of Manned Moon Flyby
space11 days ago

Artemis II Faces Heat Shield Scrutiny Ahead of Manned Moon Flyby

NASA's Artemis II crewed lunar flyby is moving forward, but Orion's heat shield—composed of Avcoat and reinforced with a 3D Multifunctional Ablative Thermal Protection System—is under scrutiny after Artemis I showed shielding damage on reentry. NASA says there is no significant safety threat and has adjusted the reentry plan to reduce risk, while hydrogen-leak delays push the launch window to March at the earliest.

SpaceX pivots from Mars to a Moon-based city for faster off-world settlement
space17 days ago

SpaceX pivots from Mars to a Moon-based city for faster off-world settlement

SpaceX has shifted its focus from pursuing Mars to building a self-sustaining city on the Moon, arguing a Moon settlement could be achieved in under a decade thanks to faster round trips (about 2 days to the Moon versus six months to Mars) and quicker iteration. Mars remains a parallel long‑term objective, but Musk says the Moon approach reduces risk from resupply disruptions and leverages Starship’s lunar capabilities and future manufacturing on the Moon, with Artemis‑era timelines and competition (e.g., Blue Origin) still influencing plans.