India's former Minister of State for External Affairs, Journalist & Author MJ Akbar, takes a swipe at Pakistan's first lunar mission, says the first thing "Jinnah" might do on the Moon is "partition it"


MJ Akbar Says 'Jinnah-1 Might Partition The Moon' In Swipe At Pakistan's Lunar Mission

#Gravitas Fourteen-year-old Kandula Jessie, a Class 10 student from Andhra Pradesh's East Godavari district, has been chosen for an all-girls lunar satellite mission. Jessie is among just 20 students selected from India, out of a total of 12,000 applicants across 108 countries, for Mission Shakhtisat.   


14-year-old Andhra Pradesh girl selected for world's first all-girls moon mission 

<p>In July 1969, as NASA astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin famously took the "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," they almost got stuck on the lunar surface. What saved the Apollo landing from ending in a tragedy was a simple plastic pen, which has now been sold at an auction for over $850,000 (£630,000).</p><h2><strong>How did the pen save astronauts from certain death in space?</strong></h2><p>The dented silver plastic Duro Rocket pen was used by Buzz Aldrin, the second man on the moon, to save Neil Armstrong and himself from being "struck on the moon for ever".</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/is-a-prison-for-fallen-angels-hidden-beneath-antarctica-why-the-book-of-enoch-theory-is-going-viral-1784085520567"><strong>Is a prison for fallen angels hidden beneath Antarctica? Why the Book of Enoch theory is going viral</strong></a></p><p>Armstrong and Aldrin landed on the surface of the moon back in July 1969 as part of the historic Apollo 11 mission. After the historic landing, the two astronauts were preparing to catch up on some ZZ's when they noticed that small black switch on the floor of the cabin, which turned out to be a vital piece of the circuit breaker that sends electrical power to the ascent engine.</p><p>In his 2009 autobiography 'Magnificent Desolation', Buzz Aldrin detailed the nerve-wrecking moment, “My heart jolted a bit … The broken switch had snapped off from the engine-arm circuit breaker, the one vital breaker needed to send electrical power to the ascent engine that would lift Neil and me off the moon.”</p>

The Broken Circuit Breaker Switch that Nearly Ended Apollo 11, and the Pen that Saved the Crew and the Mission

<p>Eventually, the astronaut came up with the ingenious plan of inserting the pen into the circuit thereby rerouting the power. The pen which was part of Aldrin's personal preference kit "did the trick;the circuit breaker held. We could return to Earth after all!," said Aldrin.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/built-to-outlive-us-all-earth-is-getting-an-indestructible-black-box-to-record-the-end-of-human-civilisation-1783747790087"><strong>Built to outlive us all: Earth is getting an indestructible ‘black box’ to record the end of human civilisation</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Auction and more</strong></h2><p>The felt tip pen was sold along with a letter of provenance in which Aldrin jokes: "I think Neil broke the switch off and Neil thinks that I broke the switch off."</p><p>"In the end, what mattered most was that we had to figure out how to solve the problem of the broken switch so that we could leave the lunar surface and get home to Earth."</p><p>Sotheby estimated the auction price for the pen to be between $800,000 and $1.2m. After being pursued by five bidders, the pen was eventually sold for $857,600.</p>

A plastic pen that Buzz Aldrin used to restore power to Apollo 11's lunar module after a critical circuit breaker broke, preventing the astronauts from being stranded on the Moon, has sold at auction for $857,600.

In July 1969, as NASA astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin famously took the "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," they almost got stuck on the lunar surface. What saved the Apollo landing from ending in a tragedy was a simple plastic pen, which has now been sold at an auction for over $850,000 (£630,000). How did the pen save astronauts from certain death in space? The dented silver plastic Duro Rocket pen was used by Buzz Aldrin, the second man on the moon, to save Neil Armstrong and himself from being "struck on the moon for ever". Also read | Is a prison for fallen angels hidden beneath Antarctica? Why the Book of Enoch theory is going viral Armstrong and Aldrin landed on the surface of the moon back in July 1969 as part of the historic Apollo 11 mission. After the historic landing, the two astronauts were preparing to catch up on some ZZ's when they noticed that small black switch on the floor of the cabin, which turned out to be a vital piece of the circuit breaker that sends electrical power to the ascent engine. In his 2009 autobiography 'Magnificent Desolation', Buzz Aldrin detailed the nerve-wrecking moment, “My heart jolted a bit … The broken switch had snapped off from the engine-arm circuit breaker, the one vital breaker needed to send electrical power to the ascent engine that would lift Neil and me off the moon.”

<p>A plastic pen that Buzz Aldrin used to restore power to Apollo 11's lunar module after a critical circuit breaker broke, preventing the astronauts from being stranded on the Moon, has sold at auction for $857,600.</p>

Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin almost died on the Moon. The plastic pen that saved them just sold for $857,600

Italian luxury fashion giant Prada has unveiled a specialized inner-layer garment designed for NASA astronauts heading to the Moon. Developed in collaboration with Axiom Space, the suit features advanced cooling and ventilation technology aimed at supporting astronauts during future lunar missions. The project marks a major step in Prada's ambitions beyond fashion, positioning the brand at the intersection of luxury, innovation, and space exploration. As commercial space travel and lunar missions gain momentum, luxury brands are increasingly looking beyond Earth for new opportunities.

Prada Unveils Moon Mission Garment For NASA Astronauts In Space Industry Push

NASA’s Orion spacecraft has successfully completed its mission as it splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, marking a safe return for the crew after the Artemis II flight. The landing signals a major milestone in deep-space exploration efforts led by NASA. Recovery teams quickly moved in to retrieve the capsule as the mission paves the way for future lunar and Mars exploration programs.


Artemis II Splashdown: US President Trump Lauds Artemis II Crew, 'Could Not Be More Proud'

Artemis II Splashdown: NASA's Moon Mission Carrying Four Astronauts Return Home

Artemis II Astronauts Splash Down Into Pacific Ocean

BREAKING: Artemis II Orion Capsule Splashes Down Safely In Pacific Ocean

The Artemis II astronauts conducted a historic lunar flyby, gathered invaluable data and took in unprecedented Moon views, but one of the most crucial moments of their 10-day mission is still to come: Fiery splashdown. The stakes are particularly high given concerns that arose during Artemis I, a 2022 uncrewed test flight to the Moon and back that saw the Orion heat shield erode in unexpected ways.


Moon Mission | The Artemis II Fiery Return

The NASA Artemis II crew is entering the most critical phase of its mission as astronauts prepare for the final leg of their journey around the Moon and back to Earth. Mission controllers are closely monitoring spacecraft systems, trajectory adjustments, and life-support conditions as the spacecraft approaches re-entry operations.


NASA Moon Mission: Artemis II Crew Returns After 10 Days of Travel Into Deep Space

The four astronauts of NASA's Artemis 2 mission just notched a major milestone: They're closer to the moon than they are to Earth. Jacki Mahaffey, a Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) at Johnson Space Center in Houston, radioed the news to the quartet around midnight EDT (0400 GMT) on Saturday morning (April 4).

NASA: Artemis II Crew Now Closer to the Moon Than to Earth

NASA’s Orion spacecraft successfully completed a key separation milestone during the Artemis II mission sequence, marking another major step toward returning humans to the Moon. Artemis II is designed to test critical deep-space systems with astronauts onboard before future lunar landing missions under the Artemis program.


Artemis II Edges Closer To The Moon's Far Side

A new chapter in space exploration is unfolding as NASA prepares for the next big leap with Artemis II. The Orion spacecraft has successfully separated and is now orbiting Earth with astronauts onboard, marking a crucial step toward future lunar landings. With just days to go, the mission is reigniting global excitement about humanity’s return to the Moon.


Artemis II Countdown Begins: NASA’s Orion Sets Stage For Historic Return To The Moon 

NASA is preparing to test a crewed flight as a precursor to its upcoming Moon landing mission. The test aims to ensure safety, validate spacecraft systems, and prepare astronauts for lunar operations. This milestone is part of NASA’s broader Artemis program, which seeks to return humans to the Moon and advance long-term exploration of the lunar surface.

NASA To Test Crewed Flight Before Attempting Moon Landing

NASA chief Jared Isaacman on Saturday ruled out a March launch for Artemis II – the first crewed flyby mission to the moon in more than 50 years – citing technical issues.

Workers detected a problem with helium flow to the massive Space Launch System (SLS) rocket that will "take the March launch window out of consideration," Issacman said in a post on X.


Artemis II Rocket Launch: NASA Rules Out March Launch of Moon Mission

NASA’s Artemis II Mission Brings Humans Closer To Moon

A gripping breakdown of asteroid 2024 YR4, rising lunar impact odds, and NASA's bold, controversial nuclear proposal to save the moon from a city-killer rock hurtling through space.

Nasa May Use Nukes to Stop Moon-bound Asteroid

NASA is reportedly exploring a nuclear-powered plan to stabilize the Moon as fears grow about a potential lunar crash scenario that could endanger Earth’s satellite network.

NASA’s Nuclear Plan to Save the Moon & Protect Earth’s Satellites

NASA’s ambitious moon mission is encountering significant hurdles, including delays, doubts, and looming deadlines. These challenges threaten to push back timelines and raise questions about the future of lunar exploration.

NASA’s Moon Mission: Delays and Doubts Mount as NASA’s Moon Dream Encounters Obstacles | WION 

<div class="x_elementToProof" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Space agency officials from India and Japan met for the third time at the southern Indian city of Bengaluru, discussing technical details of the future joint Lunar Polar Exploration(LUPEX) Mission, which India refers to as Chandrayaan-5.&nbsp;</div>
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<div class="x_elementToProof">This third Technical Interface Meeting (TIM-3) held at the ISRO Headquarters was attended by senior officials, project executives, and technical team members from the Indian Space Research Organization(ISRO), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency(JAXA), and the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), Japan.</div>
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<div class="x_elementToProof"><strong>Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/italian-open-jasmine-paolini-delights-home-crowd-by-reaching-dream-final-9073286">Italian Open: Jasmine Paolini delights home crowd by reaching 'dream' final</a></strong></div>
<div class="x_elementToProof"></div>
<div class="x_elementToProof">Chandrayaan-5 / LUPEX&nbsp; mission will be the fifth mission in India's Chandrayaan series of lunar missions, and the first in collaboration with Japan's JAXA. The Indian Government approved Chandrayaan-5 / LUPEX mission on March 10th, 2025, in the form of financial sanction.</div>
<div class="x_elementToProof"></div>
<div class="x_elementToProof">The mission is meant to explore the lunar volatile materials, including lunar water, in the vicinity of a Permanently Shadowed Region (PSR) in the less-explored and resource-rich lunar South pole.&nbsp;</div>
<div class="x_elementToProof"></div>
<div class="x_elementToProof"><strong>Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/explained-how-india-and-japan-will-execute-chandrayaan-5lupex-moon-mission-8897124">Explained: How India and Japan will execute Chandrayaan-5/LUPEX Moon mission</a></strong></div>
<div class="x_elementToProof"></div>
<div class="x_elementToProof">The mission will be launched by JAXA onboard its H3-24L launch vehicle, carrying the ISRO-made lunar lander, which will carry the MHI, Japan-made lunar rover. The scientific instruments for this mission would be contributed by ISRO, JAXA, European Space Agency(ESA) and the American National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA), all thematically connected with the exploration and in-situ analysis of the volatiles reserved in the lunar polar region.&nbsp;</div>
<div class="x_elementToProof"></div>
<div class="x_elementToProof">During the meeting, Ganesh Pillai, Scientific Secretary, ISRO congratulated both teams for the technical achievements so far, and emphasized on the importance of the collaborative endeavor for the scientific and technical aspects of the mission. Dr. Tirtha Pratim Das, Director, Science Programme Office, ISRO HQ, briefed about the major milestones achieved in terms of the landing site selection, payload optimization, mission design, as well as the ground segment and communication aspects. Ravi Chandra Babu, study team leader of Chandrayaan-5/LUPEX, briefed about the technical configurations arrived at. He emphasized on the need for the clear definition of the milestones, timeline and deliverables of the project.&nbsp;</div>
<div class="x_elementToProof"></div>
<div class="x_elementToProof"><strong>Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/plans-for-nuclear-power-station-on-moon-shape-up-as-china-and-russia-sign-deal-9066655">Will NASA lose because of Trump as China-Russia sign deal for nuclear power station on moon?</a></strong></div>
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<div class="x_elementToProof">Dai-Asoh, JAXA, during his opening address, briefed about the technical progress made towards the development of the rover and the related interfaces. Further, the officials deliberated on the various technical interfaces, joint mission implementation plan, as well as the potential landing sites for the mission.</div>
<div class="x_elementToProof"></div>
<div class="x_elementToProof">Earlier this year, ISRO Chief Dr. V. Narayanan had told WION's Sidharth.M.P, that this joint mission<span>&nbsp;</span><span>will feature a 350kg lunar rover from Japan, which is 10times heavier than the 25kg 'Pragyan' rover that was deployed as part of India's homegrown Chandrayaan-3 mission in the year 2023.</span></div>
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<div class="x_elementToProof"><b>H3- The rocket that will launch Chandrayaan-5/LUPEX</b></div>
<div class="x_elementToProof"><b>&nbsp;</b></div>
<div class="x_elementToProof">According to JAXA, the H3 Launch Vehicle is Japan's new mainstay rocket. The three-stage vehicle stands 63meters tall and weighs 574tons. The rocket is powered by solid-fuels and cryogenic fuels (Liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen). The H3 is built to reduce launch price by utilizing&nbsp; commercial-off-the-shelf products of other domestic industries such as the automobile industry rather than products exclusive to space use. Instead of following the build-to-order production approach, the industries follow&nbsp;something similar to the line production system which is used for general industrial products.&nbsp;</div>
<div class="x_elementToProof"></div>
<div class="x_elementToProof"><strong>Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/web-stories/science-technology/moong-dal-halwa-isro-packs-ghar-ka-khana-for-shubhanshu-shuklas-14-day-space-trip-9045088">'Moong Dal Halwa': ISRO packs 'ghar Ka khaana' for Shubhanshu Shukla&rsquo;s 14-day space trip</a></strong></div>
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<div class="x_elementToProof">The H3 rocket carrying the&nbsp;LUPEX&nbsp;mission will be launched from the Tanegashima Space Center (TNSC), the largest rocket-launch complex in Japan with a total area of about 9,700,000 square meters. The facility is&nbsp; located in the south of Kagoshima Prefecture, along the southeast coast of Tanegashima, it is widely regarded as the most beautiful rocket-launch complex in the world.</div>
<div class="x_elementToProof"></div>
<div class="x_elementToProof"><b>LUPEX&nbsp;and its specifications</b></div>
<div class="x_elementToProof"><b>&nbsp;</b></div>
<div class="x_elementToProof">LUPEX&rsquo;s objective is to collect data on the quantity and quality of water resources and its concentration principles in order to determine the extent lunar water resources can be used for future sustainable space exploration activities. The overall&nbsp;LUPEX&nbsp;craft would weigh 6,500kg approximately, and this includes a 350kg rover that measures 2.0m long, 1.8 wide and 3.3 tall. The rover being developed by JAXA will drive on its own to search for areas where water is likely to be present and sample the soil by digging into the ground with a drill. The plan is to acquire data by analyzing the collected samples in detail with observation equipment mounted on the rover. The mission is expected to live a little over 100days after the lunar landing, and it could live for a maximum of one year, as per JAXA.</div>
<div class="x_elementToProof"></div>
<div class="x_elementToProof"><b>Why is there a lot of interest in water on the moon ?</b></div>
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<div class="x_elementToProof">Water can be electrolyzed(split) to produce rocket fuel (oxygen and hydrogen). If there is enough water, it will be an important resource for future crewed space activities because it will eliminate the need to transport large quantities of fuel from the earth. For this reason, not only Japan but also space agencies around the world are now planning to investigate water (ice)resources in the polar regions of the Moon.&nbsp;LUPEX&nbsp;will land in an area where past remote sensing observations indicate the high possibility of existence of water (ice) .&nbsp;LUPEX&nbsp;rover will directly measure the water content by in-situ observation. In addition, by observing the distribution and existence of water resources and quantifying its amount,&nbsp;LUPEX&nbsp;will collect the basic data on the potential use of water resources and contribute to the Artemis Program, a proposed US-led effort to return astronauts to the moon and enable their long-term presence.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div>
<div class="x_elementToProof"></div>

Space agency officials from India and Japan met for the third time at the southern Indian city of Bengaluru, discussing technical details of the future joint Lunar Polar Exploration(LUPEX) Mission, which India refers to as Chandrayaan-5.

Space agency officials from India and Japan met for the third time at the southern Indian city of Bengaluru, discussing technical details of the future joint Lunar Polar Exploration(LUPEX) Mission, which India refers to as Chandrayaan-5. This third Technical Interface Meeting (TIM-3) held at the ISRO Headquarters was attended by senior officials, project executives, and technical team members from the Indian Space Research Organization(ISRO), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency(JAXA), and the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), Japan. Read More | Italian Open: Jasmine Paolini delights home crowd by reaching 'dream' final Chandrayaan-5 / LUPEX mission will be the fifth mission in India's Chandrayaan series of lunar missions, and the first in collaboration with Japan's JAXA. The Indian Government approved Chandrayaan-5 / LUPEX mission on March 10th, 2025, in the form of financial sanction. The mission is meant to explore the lunar volatile materials, including lunar water, in the vicinity of a Permanently Shadowed Region (PSR) in the less-explored and resource-rich lunar South pole. Read More | Explained: How India and Japan will execute Chandrayaan-5/LUPEX Moon mission The mission will be launched by JAXA onboard its H3-24L launch vehicle, carrying the ISRO-made lunar lander, which will carry the MHI, Japan-made lunar rover. The scientific instruments for this mission would be contributed by ISRO, JAXA, European Space Agency(ESA) and the American National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA), all thematically connected with the exploration and in-situ analysis of the volatiles reserved in the lunar polar region. During the meeting, Ganesh Pillai, Scientific Secretary, ISRO congratulated both teams for the technical achievements so far, and emphasized on the importance of the collaborative endeavor for the scientific and technical aspects of the mission. Dr. Tirtha Pratim Das, Director, Science Programme Office, ISRO HQ, briefed about the major milestones achieved in terms of the landing site selection, payload optimization, mission design, as well as the ground segment and communication aspects. Ravi Chandra Babu, study team leader of Chandrayaan-5/LUPEX, briefed about the technical configurations arrived at. He emphasized on the need for the clear definition of the milestones, timeline and deliverables of the project. Read More | Will NASA lose because of Trump as China-Russia sign deal for nuclear power station on moon? Dai-Asoh, JAXA, during his opening address, briefed about the technical progress made towards the development of the rover and the related interfaces. Further, the officials deliberated on the various technical interfaces, joint mission implementation plan, as well as the potential landing sites for the mission. Earlier this year, ISRO Chief Dr. V. Narayanan had told WION's Sidharth.M.P, that this joint mission will feature a 350kg lunar rover from Japan, which is 10times heavier than the 25kg 'Pragyan' rover that was deployed as part of India's homegrown Chandrayaan-3 mission in the year 2023. H3- The rocket that will launch Chandrayaan-5/LUPEX According to JAXA, the H3 Launch Vehicle is Japan's new mainstay rocket. The three-stage vehicle stands 63meters tall and weighs 574tons. The rocket is powered by solid-fuels and cryogenic fuels (Liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen). The H3 is built to reduce launch price by utilizing commercial-off-the-shelf products of other domestic industries such as the automobile industry rather than products exclusive to space use. Instead of following the build-to-order production approach, the industries follow something similar to the line production system which is used for general industrial products. Read More | 'Moong Dal Halwa': ISRO packs 'ghar Ka khaana' for Shubhanshu Shukla’s 14-day space trip The H3 rocket carrying the LUPEX mission will be launched from the Tanegashima Space Center (TNSC), the largest rocket-launch complex in Japan with a total area of about 9,700,000 square meters. The facility is located in the south of Kagoshima Prefecture, along the southeast coast of Tanegashima, it is widely regarded as the most beautiful rocket-launch complex in the world. LUPEX and its specifications LUPEX’s objective is to collect data on the quantity and quality of water resources and its concentration principles in order to determine the extent lunar water resources can be used for future sustainable space exploration activities. The overall LUPEX craft would weigh 6,500kg approximately, and this includes a 350kg rover that measures 2.0m long, 1.8 wide and 3.3 tall. The rover being developed by JAXA will drive on its own to search for areas where water is likely to be present and sample the soil by digging into the ground with a drill. The plan is to acquire data by analyzing the collected samples in detail with observation equipment mounted on the rover. The mission is expected to live a little over 100days after the lunar landing, and it could live for a maximum of one year, as per JAXA. Why is there a lot of interest in water on the moon ? Water can be electrolyzed(split) to produce rocket fuel (oxygen and hydrogen). If there is enough water, it will be an important resource for future crewed space activities because it will eliminate the need to transport large quantities of fuel from the earth. For this reason, not only Japan but also space agencies around the world are now planning to investigate water (ice)resources in the polar regions of the Moon. LUPEX will land in an area where past remote sensing observations indicate the high possibility of existence of water (ice) . LUPEX rover will directly measure the water content by in-situ observation. In addition, by observing the distribution and existence of water resources and quantifying its amount, LUPEX will collect the basic data on the potential use of water resources and contribute to the Artemis Program, a proposed US-led effort to return astronauts to the moon and enable their long-term presence.

India and Japan discuss progress of Chandrayaan-5-LUPEX moon landing mission

After becoming the first country to achieve a soft landing on the Moon's south pole region, India plans to launch a fifth lunar probe carrying a 25-kilogram rover, in collaboration with Japan's JAXA.

Indian govt gives nod to Chandrayaan-5 moon mission

India approves Chandrayaan-5 moon mission

‘Shackleton Crater’: China to send hopping robot onboard Chang’e 7 to hunt for water on Moon

 China Gears Up

Search for Water

Landing and Navigation

Shackleton Crater

‘Jade Rabbit’

Lunar Relay Satellite

Broader Lunar Plans

China is set to launch the Chang’e 7 mission in 2026, aiming to search for water ice at the Moon’s south pole. The mission will include a lander, a rover, and a pioneering mobile hopper designed for exploration in permanently shadowed craters.

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<p>There have been major delays in NASA’s Artemis program which have caused setbacks for astronauts flying to the Moon as a part of that mission. This comes as Artemis II, which is intended to carry four astronauts into a lunar orbit, was moved to April 2026.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the initial plan of sending the astronauts around the Moon and not landing there will take place in September 2025. This date was already postponed once, from November of this year. The follow-up mission, Artemis III, scheduled for the following year, aims at the mid-2027 lunar landing.<br />
<br />
<strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/was-mini-moon-asteroid-once-part-of-our-moon-nasa-will-try-to-find-out-when-it-returns-779866">Was 'mini-moon' asteroid once part of our Moon? NASA will try to find out when it returns</a></strong></p>

<h2 dir="ltr"><b>Why is the mission being delayed?</b></h2>

<p>NASA Administrator Bill Nelson attributed these delays to problems with the Orion crew capsule's heat shield.&nbsp;</p>

<p>During a test flight in 2022, when the capsule flew without astronauts, the heat shield was damaged. It developed cracks and erosion as it re-entered Earth's atmosphere, raising concerns about its safety for future missions with crew onboard.&nbsp;</p>

<p>To fix this, NASA has decided to change the capsule’s return path for the upcoming Artemis II mission, while keeping the current heat shield design to avoid further delays that would come from redesigning it completely.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The Artemis program was launched during former United States President Donald Trump’s first term and aims to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon, with plans to build lunar bases for future Mars missions. However, the program has faced issues like rising costs and technical difficulties. By 2025, the estimated cost of Artemis is around $93 billion, and each launch of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) costs about $2 billion.<br />
<br />
<strong>Watch:&nbsp;Why is NASA pushing back Moon mission timelines?</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>NASA's commitment to Artemis</strong></h2>

<p>Nelson also highlighted the importance of sticking to the new deadlines to keep the US as a leader in space, especially with China planning to send astronauts to the Moon by 2030. He said the US still aims to land astronauts on the Moon before China, showing how competitive space exploration has become.</p>

<p>Under Nelson’s leadership, the Artemis program has been the American space agency’s top priority. Former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, appointed by Trump, played a key role in launching the Artemis program and securing funding from Congress.</p>

<p>Notably, India is&nbsp;a signatory to the Artemis Accords, a framework for international cooperation in lunar exploration.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


There have been major delays in NASA’s Artemis program which have caused setbacks for astronauts flying to the Moon as a part of that mission. This comes as Artemis II, which is intended to carry four astronauts into a lunar orbit, was moved to April 2026.

There have been major delays in NASA’s Artemis program which have caused setbacks for astronauts flying to the Moon as a part of that mission. This comes as Artemis II, which is intended to carry four astronauts into a lunar orbit, was moved to April 2026. Meanwhile, the initial plan of sending the astronauts around the Moon and not landing there will take place in September 2025. This date was already postponed once, from November of this year. The follow-up mission, Artemis III, scheduled for the following year, aims at the mid-2027 lunar landing. Also read: Was 'mini-moon' asteroid once part of our Moon? NASA will try to find out when it returns Why is the mission being delayed? NASA Administrator Bill Nelson attributed these delays to problems with the Orion crew capsule's heat shield. During a test flight in 2022, when the capsule flew without astronauts, the heat shield was damaged. It developed cracks and erosion as it re-entered Earth's atmosphere, raising concerns about its safety for future missions with crew onboard. To fix this, NASA has decided to change the capsule’s return path for the upcoming Artemis II mission, while keeping the current heat shield design to avoid further delays that would come from redesigning it completely. The Artemis program was launched during former United States President Donald Trump’s first term and aims to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon, with plans to build lunar bases for future Mars missions. However, the program has faced issues like rising costs and technical difficulties. By 2025, the estimated cost of Artemis is around $93 billion, and each launch of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) costs about $2 billion. Watch: Why is NASA pushing back Moon mission timelines? × NASA's commitment to Artemis Nelson also highlighted the importance of sticking to the new deadlines to keep the US as a leader in space, especially with China planning to send astronauts to the Moon by 2030. He said the US still aims to land astronauts on the Moon before China, showing how competitive space exploration has become. Under Nelson’s leadership, the Artemis program has been the American space agency’s top priority. Former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, appointed by Trump, played a key role in launching the Artemis program and securing funding from Congress. Notably, India is a signatory to the Artemis Accords, a framework for international cooperation in lunar exploration. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA's Artemis Moon Mission delayed, new schedule set for 2026 and 2027

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