NASA’s highly anticipated Artemis III mission involves returning astronauts to the lunar surface in the first crewed touchdown since the final Apollo mission in 1972. NASA is currently targeting 2027 for the endeavor, but the space agency’s safety advisers have recently suggested that the mission could be delayed by “years.”
The opinion was shared at a public meeting of the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel on Friday in which it was stated that SpaceX’s modified version of the Starship spacecraft, called the Human Landing System (HLS), may not be ready in time, SpaceNews reported.
The plan for Artemis III involves sending four astronauts to a lunar orbit aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft, which would be launched by NASA’s next-gen SLS rocket. Two of the four astronauts would then transfer from the Orion to Starship’s HLS before heading to the lunar surface.
The panel arrived at its disappointing conclusion after meeting with SpaceX executives last month.
Panel member Paul Hill described the HLS schedule as “significantly challenged,” adding that it “could be years late for a 2027 Artemis III moon landing.”
One of the main hurdles cited was the need to demonstrate the ability to achieve cryogenic propellant transfer in which a Starship spacecraft refuels the main moon-bound HLS spacecraft in low-Earth orbit.
Another panel member, Bill Bray, echoed Hill’s concerns, describing the path for Artemis III and beyond as “uncertain and a little murky.” Bray also cited spacesuit development as an additional concern.
Despite the challenges, the panel was also keen to praise SpaceX for its achievements to date, which include reducing spaceflight costs through the reuse of rockets, such as its workhorse Falcon 9 vehicle.
SpaceX has been testing its Starship vehicle — comprising the first-stage Super Heavy rocket and upper-stage Starship spacecraft — since 2023 and it’s so far flown 10 times. While the rocket’s performance is improving, the pace of progress has been slow, with many key milestones still to be met.
The Artemis II mission, which will use the SLS and Orion to fly four astronauts around the moon, is still on track for next year, and could also impact the date of Artemis III as it will use the same rocket and spacecraft.
But looking at the current situation, it seems increasingly likely that NASA will at some point officially push the Artemis III mission to beyond 2027.
Given the state of the Starship’s development, such news won’t come as a total surprise, and will be the latest in a string of delays to affect the much-anticipated mission.
