"Following countless delays plaguing its efforts to return the first astronauts to the lunar surface in over half a century, NASA could finally be bucking the trend. NASA officials revealed today that the agency's Artemis 2 mission, which will see a crew of four astronauts travel around the Moon and back, could launch as soon as February 5, roughly two months earlier than previously anticipated."
"While there's no guarantee of a February lift-off, it's a breath of fresh air, considering previous delays. Lawmakers are also becoming increasingly concerned that China could beat the United States back to the Moon as the space agency's Artemis program continues to lag behind. While NASA is currently aiming no earlier than mid-2027 for its Artemis 3 mission, China has made significant progress towards its own lunar landing mission, aiming to land the first Chinese astronauts on the Moon " before 2030.""
NASA's Artemis 2 mission may launch as early as February 5, roughly two months earlier than previously expected. The mission will send four astronauts around the Moon and back as a crewed test flight. NASA previously delayed Artemis 2 from late 2025 to April 2026 and pushed Artemis 3 to mid-2027. Acting deputy associate administrator Lakiesha Hawkins said launch windows as early as February are being considered, though no date is guaranteed. Lawmakers worry China could land astronauts on the Moon before the United States. Artemis 2 will demonstrate new systems and capabilities during the test flight.
Read at Futurism
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