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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 />
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<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 />
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<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

<p>NASA is gearing up for the launch of an exploration mission of Saturn’s largest moon, Titan. The Dragonfly Rotorcraft Mission is set to launch in July 2028 to study the “diverse locations to characterise the habitability of Titan’s environment”, said NASA in its newsletter.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Titan is often called one of the most “organic-rich moons” of the ringed planet, and it is also the only moon known to have an atmosphere denser than Earth’s. Exploration of the moon is crucial for the scientific community as it is the only known celestial object other than Earth on which clear evidence of stable bodies of surface liquid has been found.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-mars-helicopter-sends-last-message-to-earth-712591">NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter sends last message to Earth</a></p>

<p>“Dragonfly is a spectacular science mission with broad community interest, and we are excited to take the next steps on this mission," said Nicky Fox, associate administrator, of the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Exploring Titan will push the boundaries of what we can do with rotorcraft outside of Earth.”</p>

<h2><strong>Dragonfly mission: Cost, duration, objectives and what we know so far</strong></h2>

<p>NASA said on Tuesday that the total lifecycle of the Dragonfly mission will cost $3.35 billion. The mission will be launched in 2028 and is expected to reach the surface of Titan in 2034 to explore a dozen locations on the moon.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The current cost of the mission is two times more than the original proposed cost and the launch date of the mission is delayed by two years.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>During the COVID-19 period, the mission went through multiple overhauls due to constraints in fiscal years 2020 through 2022.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“To compensate for the delayed arrival at Titan, NASA also provided additional funding for a heavy-lift launch vehicle to shorten the mission’s cruise phase,"&nbsp;NASA said in its official statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With the Dragonfly mission, the American space agency aimed to look for “prebiotic chemical processes on both Titan and the early Earth”, before life was developed.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>"Dragonfly marks the first time NASA will fly a vehicle for science on another planetary body," the government agency said. "The rotorcraft has eight rotors and flies like a large drone."</p>

<p>Dragonfly Rotorcraft is being designed and developed by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), which also manages the mission for NASA.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


NASA is gearing up for the launch of an exploration mission of Saturn’s largest moon, Titan. The Dragonfly Rotorcraft Mission is set to launch in July 2028 to study the “diverse locations to characterise the habitability of Titan’s environment”, said NASA in its newsletter.

NASA is gearing up for the launch of an exploration mission of Saturn’s largest moon, Titan. The Dragonfly Rotorcraft Mission is set to launch in July 2028 to study the “diverse locations to characterise the habitability of Titan’s environment”, said NASA in its newsletter. Titan is often called one of the most “organic-rich moons” of the ringed planet, and it is also the only moon known to have an atmosphere denser than Earth’s. Exploration of the moon is crucial for the scientific community as it is the only known celestial object other than Earth on which clear evidence of stable bodies of surface liquid has been found. Also Read | NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter sends last message to Earth “Dragonfly is a spectacular science mission with broad community interest, and we are excited to take the next steps on this mission," said Nicky Fox, associate administrator, of the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "Exploring Titan will push the boundaries of what we can do with rotorcraft outside of Earth.” Dragonfly mission: Cost, duration, objectives and what we know so far NASA said on Tuesday that the total lifecycle of the Dragonfly mission will cost $3.35 billion. The mission will be launched in 2028 and is expected to reach the surface of Titan in 2034 to explore a dozen locations on the moon. The current cost of the mission is two times more than the original proposed cost and the launch date of the mission is delayed by two years. Also Read | Scientists believe Uranus and Neptune are 'ice giants,' but a new study hints at something else During the COVID-19 period, the mission went through multiple overhauls due to constraints in fiscal years 2020 through 2022. “To compensate for the delayed arrival at Titan, NASA also provided additional funding for a heavy-lift launch vehicle to shorten the mission’s cruise phase," NASA said in its official statement. With the Dragonfly mission, the American space agency aimed to look for “prebiotic chemical processes on both Titan and the early Earth”, before life was developed. Also Read | Nature’s grand theatre: Volcanic eruption and northern lights create stunning visuals in Iceland. Watch! "Dragonfly marks the first time NASA will fly a vehicle for science on another planetary body," the government agency said. "The rotorcraft has eight rotors and flies like a large drone." Dragonfly Rotorcraft is being designed and developed by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), which also manages the mission for NASA. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA to launch drone-like Dragonfly rotorcraft to explore Saturn's moon Titan

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<p>The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has named three companies to advance capabilities for a lunar terrain vehicle (LTV)- a rover that astronauts will drive on the Moon. In a statement, NASA said on Wednesday (Apr 3) that astronauts will use the LTV to travel around the lunar surface, conducting scientific research during the Artemis campaign on the Moon and preparing for human missions to Mars.</p>

<p>The companies that have been chosen are- Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost, and Venturi Astrolab.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We look forward to the development of the Artemis generation lunar exploration vehicle to help us advance what we learn at the Moon,” Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, said on Wednesday.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-blasts-an-asteroid-in-space-it-now-fears-its-debris-may-collide-with-mars-707195">NASA blasted an asteroid in space. It now fears boulders may collide with Mars</a></strong></p>

<p>“This vehicle will greatly increase our astronauts’ ability to explore and conduct science on the lunar surface while also serving as a science platform between crewed missions,” Wyche added.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>The contract</strong></h2>

<p>The statement said that NASA would acquire the LTV as a service from industry. "The indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, milestone-based Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services contract with firm-fixed-price task orders has a combined maximum potential value of $4.6 billion for all awards," the statement said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Each provider would begin with a feasibility task order, which would be a year-long special study to develop a system that meets NASA’s requirements through the preliminary design maturity project phase.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Why is NASA creating a time standard for the Moon?</strong></p>

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<p>The American space agency would issue a subsequent request for task order proposal to the eligible provider(s) for a demonstration mission to continue developing the LTV, deliver it to the surface of the Moon, and validate its performance and safety ahead of Artemis V.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"NASA will issue additional task orders to provide unpressurized rover capabilities for the agency’s moonwalking and scientific exploration needs through 2039," the statement further added.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>'Explore, transport, collect samples'</strong></h2>

<p>NASA said that the LTV would be able to handle the extreme conditions at the Moon's South Pole. Crews would use the terrain vehicle to explore, transport scientific equipment, and collect samples of the lunar surface, much farther than they could on foot, enabling increased science returns.</p>

<p>"Between Artemis missions, when crews are not on the Moon, the LTV will operate remotely to support NASA’s scientific objectives as needed," the statement also said.&nbsp;</p>


The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has named three companies to advance capabilities for a lunar terrain vehicle (LTV)- a rover that astronauts will drive on the Moon.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has named three companies to advance capabilities for a lunar terrain vehicle (LTV)- a rover that astronauts will drive on the Moon. In a statement, NASA said on Wednesday (Apr 3) that astronauts will use the LTV to travel around the lunar surface, conducting scientific research during the Artemis campaign on the Moon and preparing for human missions to Mars. The companies that have been chosen are- Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost, and Venturi Astrolab. “We look forward to the development of the Artemis generation lunar exploration vehicle to help us advance what we learn at the Moon,” Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, said on Wednesday. Also read | NASA blasted an asteroid in space. It now fears boulders may collide with Mars “This vehicle will greatly increase our astronauts’ ability to explore and conduct science on the lunar surface while also serving as a science platform between crewed missions,” Wyche added. The contract The statement said that NASA would acquire the LTV as a service from industry. "The indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, milestone-based Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services contract with firm-fixed-price task orders has a combined maximum potential value of $4.6 billion for all awards," the statement said. Each provider would begin with a feasibility task order, which would be a year-long special study to develop a system that meets NASA’s requirements through the preliminary design maturity project phase. Also watch | Why is NASA creating a time standard for the Moon? × The American space agency would issue a subsequent request for task order proposal to the eligible provider(s) for a demonstration mission to continue developing the LTV, deliver it to the surface of the Moon, and validate its performance and safety ahead of Artemis V. "NASA will issue additional task orders to provide unpressurized rover capabilities for the agency’s moonwalking and scientific exploration needs through 2039," the statement further added. 'Explore, transport, collect samples' NASA said that the LTV would be able to handle the extreme conditions at the Moon's South Pole. Crews would use the terrain vehicle to explore, transport scientific equipment, and collect samples of the lunar surface, much farther than they could on foot, enabling increased science returns. "Between Artemis missions, when crews are not on the Moon, the LTV will operate remotely to support NASA’s scientific objectives as needed," the statement also said.

Astronauts to drive around in Moon cars that will be brought to life by these three companies