Tag

Artemis Iii

All articles tagged with #artemis iii

NASA, SpaceX, and Blue Origin Race to Accelerate Moon Missions
space-exploration3 months ago

NASA, SpaceX, and Blue Origin Race to Accelerate Moon Missions

NASA's Artemis III lunar mission faces delays due to technical issues with SpaceX's Starship, which is designed to be a versatile but currently unproven super-heavy-lift vehicle. The development challenges, including multiple failed test flights and payload capacity concerns, have led NASA to reopen the lunar landing contract to competitors like Blue Origin. The broader context involves the US government's unstable space policy and budget, impacting international collaboration and long-term planning for lunar exploration.

NASA considers replacing SpaceX for Artemis III moon landing amid leadership disputes
science4 months ago

NASA considers replacing SpaceX for Artemis III moon landing amid leadership disputes

NASA's acting administrator Sean Duffy indicated that due to delays and setbacks with SpaceX's Starship lunar lander, the agency might consider other companies like Blue Origin for the Artemis III moon landing, which is now unlikely to occur before 2029, amid concerns about meeting the 2027 deadline and competing with China's lunar ambitions.

SpaceX's Starship: Key Milestones and Future Missions
space4 months ago

SpaceX's Starship: Key Milestones and Future Missions

SpaceX is preparing for its 12th flight of the Starship rocket, which is crucial for advancing its space exploration goals, including potential missions to the Moon and Mars. The 12th flight's timing is uncertain but likely in early 2026, following recent successful tests and upgrades to the rocket's design, especially the new Block 3 version of the Super Heavy booster. This milestone is vital for SpaceX's plans to launch crewed lunar missions and expand its launch cadence.

SpaceX Prepares for Next Starship Launch with Robotic Assembly and Stunning ISS Views
space1 year ago

SpaceX Prepares for Next Starship Launch with Robotic Assembly and Stunning ISS Views

SpaceX is preparing for the seventh test flight of its Starship rocket, with the Super Heavy booster now at the launchpad for preflight testing. The upcoming test, potentially scheduled for January 11, aims to further improve the rocket's performance, which has seen significant advancements since its first flight in April 2023. SpaceX and NASA plan to use a modified Starship for the Artemis III mission to land humans on the Moon by 2027, with future missions possibly targeting Mars colonization.

SpaceX Prepares for Starship Orbital Refueling and November Launch
space1 year ago

SpaceX Prepares for Starship Orbital Refueling and November Launch

SpaceX is planning an ambitious orbital refueling test between two Starships, scheduled to begin in March 2025. This test is crucial for demonstrating Starship's capability to support NASA's Artemis III mission, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface. The test involves launching two Starships to low Earth orbit, where one will refuel the other, marking a significant milestone in space exploration. This development is part of SpaceX's broader goal to enable large-scale payload transport beyond Earth's orbit and to prepare for future lunar landings.

Global Efforts Unite to Cultivate Plants on the Moon
space-exploration1 year ago

Global Efforts Unite to Cultivate Plants on the Moon

The LEAF project, part of NASA's Artemis III mission, aims to study plant growth on the Moon by 2028. Developed by Space Lab, the project will test the effects of lunar gravity, radiation, and light on three plant types in a controlled environment at the Moon's south pole. This initiative follows China's Chang'e 4 mission, which faced challenges with lunar night temperatures. LEAF's findings could inform future lunar agriculture efforts.