BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — NASA leaders say they need more time to allow teams to work through challenges associated with first-time developments, operations, and integration before the launch of Artemis II, a crewed mission around the moon.
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It will also mean a delay for Artemis III, the agency’s next lunar landing with astronauts.
Artemis II was scheduled to launch from Florida’s Space Coast in November of this year.
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This afternoon, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced Artemis II will launch in September of 2025, and Artemis III will launch in September of 2026.
Teams are taking a closer look at the performance of the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield.
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“It’s supposed to char, but we were not expecting some pieces of that char to be liberated from the vehicle,” Deputy Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya explained.
Teams are also troubleshooting a battery concern on the spacecraft and addressing issues with a component responsible for air ventilation and temperature control.
The agency says crew safety is driving the new Artemis timeline.
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