PREVIEW

Nasa Delays Moon Astronaut Flight to 2026. Nasa has announced another delay in its Artemis programme, pushing the astronaut flight around the Moon to April 2026. The mission was originally scheduled for November 2024 and then shifted to September 2025, BBC News reports. The delay to Artemis 2 also pushes the timeline for Artemis 3, the Moon landing mission, to at least mid-2027—one year later than initially planned. The delay is attributed to issues with the Orion capsule's heat shield, which experienced excessive charring, erosion, and fragment loss during its previous test flight. Nasa Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized astronaut safety as the top priority, stating, “We do not fly until we are ready.” Engineers are working to adjust the capsule's re-entry trajectory to address the issue. Nasa is competing with China's space agency, which aims to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030. Mr. Nelson expressed confidence in beating China to the lunar surface but urged commercial and international partners to accelerate efforts. Nasa’s Space Launch System (SLS), central to the Artemis programme, has faced criticism for being costly and slow to develop compared to private sector innovations like SpaceX’s reusable Starship rocket. SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, is advancing rapidly with its Starship programme, which promises cheaper and reusable technology, creating a stark contrast to the SLS's old-school approach. President-elect Donald Trump has nominated billionaire Jared Isaacman to replace Bill Nelson as Nasa's head. Isaacman’s appointment raises questions about potential changes to Nasa’s operations. Isaacman, a collaborator with Elon Musk and private spaceflight pioneer, might introduce a more entrepreneurial approach to Nasa, which could alter the agency’s traditional model.
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