NASA's Artemis Moon Mission: New Docking Test and Strategy Amidst Rising Competition
NASA revamps its Artemis program, introducing a new docking mission in 2027 before astronauts land on the moon. In response to China's lunar ambitions, NASA aims for crewed moon landing by 2028, while SpaceX and Blue Origin compete for the lunar lander contract. Safety experts call for thorough testing.
NASA has revamped its Artemis lunar initiative by incorporating a new mission in 2027. The mission will test docking procedures in Earth's orbit, an essential step before astronauts land on the moon for the first time in over 50 years.
The changes come as part of a broader update announced on Friday, amid rising competition from China, which aims for a crewed moon landing by 2030. U.S. officials have stressed the need for extensive testing to ensure safety prior to NASA's crewed moon landing, now scheduled for 2028 as Artemis IV. The agency has also dropped plans to upgrade its Space Launch System (SLS), affecting Boeing's $2 billion contract to enhance the SLS upper stage, in favor of increasing the rocket's production and flight rate.
Key players in this significant endeavor include Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, which are both vying to develop the first NASA-approved astronaut lunar lander. Meanwhile, the SLS, constructed by Boeing and Northrop Grumman, will carry the Lockheed Martin-produced Orion capsule. This capsule will transport astronauts to the lunar landers in space. NASA tested the SLS and Orion uncrewed in 2022 and plans a manned test flight in April 2023. A crucial part of the Artemis III mission involves Orion's docking ability in low-Earth orbit, which will be demonstrated with astronauts aboard.
Google News