NASA’s mission to boldly go where no man has gone for half a century was delayed by another year last night.
The US space agency blamed technical issues in its Artemis programme for pushing back its planned return to the moon in 2026 until at least mid-2027.
More than half a century after the last moon landing, by Apollo 17 in December 1972, a separate mission to send astronauts around the moon – but not touch down – that was due to blast off in September, was also delayed, to April 2026.
The Artemis mission to return to the moon was established during President-elect Donald Trump’s first spell in office.
The delay has been blamed on various issues raised by the first Artemis test flight, which flew unmanned around the moon in 2022, including a dangerously charred heat shield that is vital to protect astronauts during their return to Earth.
Buzz Aldrin and the U.S. Flag on the Moon, 1969. More than half a century after the last moon landing, by Apollo 17 in December 1972, a separate mission to send astronauts around the moon – but not touch down – that was due to blast off in September, was also delayed, to April 2026
A NASA rocket launch in January this year. The Artemis mission to return to the moon was established during President-elect Donald Trump’s first spell in office. The delay has been blamed on various issues raised by the first Artemis test flight
NASA’s mission to boldly go where no man has gone for half a century was delayed by another year last night