Aug 10, 2023 10:04 PM
(This post was last modified: Aug 10, 2023 10:05 PM by C C.)
NASA weighs changes to Artemis 3 if key elements are delayed
https://spacenews.com/nasa-weighs-change...e-delayed/
EXCERPT: Free did not discuss what specifically might trigger changing Artemis 3. However, in a June presentation to a pair of National Academies committees, he expressed concern about the progress SpaceX was making on its Starship vehicle, including the lunar lander version (Starship HLS) that will be used on Artemis 3. He said then that Artemis 3 “probably” would slip to 2026 because of problems SpaceX has had on Starship... (MORE - missing details)
Artemis 3
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis_3
EXCERPT: In August 2023, due to delays in the development of Starship, NASA officials expressed an openness to flying Artemis 3 without a crewed landing. In this case, the mission may become a crewed visit to the Lunar Gateway.
NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission is on track, but questions remain about Artemis 3
https://www.space.com/artemis-2-astronau...-questions
EXCERPTS: Getting a peek inside their ride to the moon was a profound moment for the astronauts of NASA's Artemis 2 mission...
[...] Where questions begin to arise is with the moon-landing Artemis 3 mission, NASA officials said, hinting that a new mission plan may be necessary if SpaceX isn't ready for the landing.
December 2025 is still the target launch date, but NASA is awaiting more information from SpaceX and the readiness of the company's next-gen Starship system, which has been tasked with landing the Artemis 3 astronauts near the moon's south pole. NASA officials were recently at Starbase, SpaceX's Starship hub in South Texas, to go over schedules and readiness expectations.
[...] The timeline for that flight also depends on the results of an ongoing review of the first launch that's being conducted by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. And acing a single test flight won't be enough to pave the way for Artemis 3: NASA needs to see multiple successful launches of Starship before putting astronauts on the vehicle.
SpaceX is not the only contractor NASA is managing for Artemis 3, Free added; the agency is also in talks with spacesuit maker Axiom Space about matters such as interfaces and readiness.
Free said it's possible NASA may choose to fly a different mission if Starship isn't ready in time by Artemis 3's planned launch date. The International Space Station (ISS) program, he said, has showed NASA ways of flying missions even if key hardware wasn't ready in time for launch... (MORE - missing details)
https://spacenews.com/nasa-weighs-change...e-delayed/
EXCERPT: Free did not discuss what specifically might trigger changing Artemis 3. However, in a June presentation to a pair of National Academies committees, he expressed concern about the progress SpaceX was making on its Starship vehicle, including the lunar lander version (Starship HLS) that will be used on Artemis 3. He said then that Artemis 3 “probably” would slip to 2026 because of problems SpaceX has had on Starship... (MORE - missing details)
Artemis 3
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis_3
EXCERPT: In August 2023, due to delays in the development of Starship, NASA officials expressed an openness to flying Artemis 3 without a crewed landing. In this case, the mission may become a crewed visit to the Lunar Gateway.
NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission is on track, but questions remain about Artemis 3
https://www.space.com/artemis-2-astronau...-questions
EXCERPTS: Getting a peek inside their ride to the moon was a profound moment for the astronauts of NASA's Artemis 2 mission...
[...] Where questions begin to arise is with the moon-landing Artemis 3 mission, NASA officials said, hinting that a new mission plan may be necessary if SpaceX isn't ready for the landing.
December 2025 is still the target launch date, but NASA is awaiting more information from SpaceX and the readiness of the company's next-gen Starship system, which has been tasked with landing the Artemis 3 astronauts near the moon's south pole. NASA officials were recently at Starbase, SpaceX's Starship hub in South Texas, to go over schedules and readiness expectations.
[...] The timeline for that flight also depends on the results of an ongoing review of the first launch that's being conducted by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. And acing a single test flight won't be enough to pave the way for Artemis 3: NASA needs to see multiple successful launches of Starship before putting astronauts on the vehicle.
SpaceX is not the only contractor NASA is managing for Artemis 3, Free added; the agency is also in talks with spacesuit maker Axiom Space about matters such as interfaces and readiness.
Free said it's possible NASA may choose to fly a different mission if Starship isn't ready in time by Artemis 3's planned launch date. The International Space Station (ISS) program, he said, has showed NASA ways of flying missions even if key hardware wasn't ready in time for launch... (MORE - missing details)