A human lunar landing might have to wait, as NASA has put the launch date for its Artemis III mission back to no earlier than 2025.
The programme was initiated in 2017 by the Trump administration, with the goal of putting the first woman on the Moon by 2024. But the project has been subject to many delays – from cost and supply issues due to the pandemic, to flood damage at the Michoud Assembly Facility, where the Space Launch System rocket is being assembled. In addition, progress on the Human Landing System being built by SpaceX is being hampered due to litigation from rival spaceflight company Blue Origin. The first stage of the mission, the uncrewed test flight Artemis I, is currently undergoing final preparations before launch in early 2022, several years behind its initial launch date. The delays have given a window for other nations with their eyes on lunar exploration to catch up. In November, Senior Chinese lunar programme designer, Ye Peijan, said, “A Chinese crewed Moon landing is entirely possible by 2030.” www.nasa.gov