NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced on Thursday that the Artemis program, aimed at returning astronauts to the Moon for the first time since 1972, is facing further delays. The timeline for the next two planned missions has been pushed back, with potential policy shifts anticipated under President-elect Donald Trump’s administration.
Speaking at a news conference at NASA headquarters, Nelson confirmed that Artemis II, the next mission to send astronauts around the Moon, is now slated for April 2026. The subsequent Artemis III mission, which includes a lunar landing using SpaceX’s Starship, is planned for mid-2027.
“Assuming the SpaceX lander is ready, we plan to launch Artemis III in mid-2027,” Nelson said, emphasizing the urgency of the timeline. “That will be well ahead of the Chinese government’s announced intention to land on the lunar surface by 2030.”
The delays follow a thorough review of the Orion crew capsule, built by Lockheed Martin, and its heat shield. Issues were identified after the heat shield sustained cracks and erosion during the uncrewed Artemis I test mission in 2022.
Program Challenges and Adjustments
The Artemis program, initiated during Trump’s first administration, is NASA’s flagship effort to return humans to the Moon. With an estimated $93 billion budget through 2025, it aims to establish lunar bases as stepping stones toward future Mars missions. Despite notable achievements, such as the successful 2022 uncrewed Orion mission, the program has faced repeated delays and rising costs.
The Space Launch System (SLS), NASA’s primary rocket for Artemis missions, costs approximately $2 billion per launch, with substantial cost overruns. These financial concerns have led some advisers to Trump’s transition team to suggest a greater focus on Mars missions using SpaceX’s Starship.
Nelson revealed that NASA has decided to retain the current heat shield design for Artemis II while adjusting the capsule’s reentry trajectory to mitigate cracking issues. Future Artemis missions will feature upgraded heat shields, but replacing the shield for Artemis II would have caused a delay of at least a year, according to Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy.
Artemis II and III Timelines
Initially scheduled for September 2025, Artemis II has now been pushed to April 2026. This mission involves a crewed flight around the Moon without a landing. The Artemis III mission, planned for 2027, will transfer astronauts from Orion to SpaceX’s Starship for the lunar landing.
Competition and Future Outlook
The United States faces stiff competition from China, which has announced its own lunar landing ambitions by 2030. Both nations are seeking partnerships with other countries and collaborating with private companies to advance their Moon programs.
Despite delays, the Artemis program remains NASA’s top priority under Nelson. Initiated by former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine during Trump’s first term, the program has garnered increased funding from Congress.
As NASA prepares for leadership changes, Trump has selected billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, a close associate of SpaceX founder Elon Musk, to succeed Nelson. Nelson expressed optimism that the incoming administration would continue to support the Artemis program.
“We’ve made tremendous progress, and I look forward to seeing Artemis achieve its goals,” Nelson said, highlighting the program’s role in maintaining U.S. leadership in space exploration.