NASA’s mission to boldly go where no one has gone for half a century was postponed for another year last night.
The US space agency blamed technical problems in its Artemis program for delaying its planned 2026 return to the moon 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 land – set to depart in September was also postponed until April 2026.
The Artemis mission to return to the moon was accomplished during newly elected President Donald Trump’s first term.
The delay is blamed on several issues that emerged during the first Artemis test flight, which flew unmanned around the moon in 2022, including a dangerously charred heat shield that is essential to protect astronauts during their return to Earth.
Buzz Aldrin and the American flag on the moon, 1969. More than half a century after the last moon landing, by Apollo 17 in December 1972, a separate mission was carried out to send astronauts around the moon – but not land them – was about to explode, which was launched in September, was also postponed until April 2026
A NASA rocket launch in January this year. The Artemis mission to return to the moon was accomplished during newly elected President Donald Trump’s first term. The delay is attributed to several issues that emerged during the first Artemis test flight
NASA’s mission to boldly go where no one has gone for half a century was postponed for another year last night