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NASA has announced delays in its Artemis program to return astronauts to the Moon.
The next two planned Artemis missions have been pushed back due to issues with the Orion crew capsule's heat shield and potential policy changes under President-elect Donald Trump’s administration.
Artemis mission
Artemis-I: Unmanned Mission to the Moon
The Artemis program began with the launch of the spacecraft named "Orion" on the Space Launch System (SLS) from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on November 16, 2022.
The SLS, a super heavy-lift launch vehicle, carried Orion on a single mission directly to the moon.
Artemis-II: Crewed Lunar Flyby Mission:
Artemis-II will mark the first crewed mission under the Artemis program.
Planned to send astronauts around the Moon in 2024, now delayed to April 2026
Four astronauts will be aboard the SLS as it performs multiple maneuvers on an expanding orbit around Earth.
The mission will also involve a lunar flyby and return to Earth.
Artemis-III: Human Return to the Moon:
Set for 2025, Artemis-III will mark a significant milestone in human space exploration as astronauts return to the moon.
This mission will go beyond the lunar flyby of Artemis-II, allowing astronauts to land on the lunar surface and study the moon more extensively.
Also, the establishment of a Lunar Gateway station is planned for 2029.
This station will serve as a docking point for astronauts and facilitate scientific research and experiments.
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