Science
Related: About this forumNASA has 'cancelled' the Artemis III moon landing. Here's why
https://www.independent.co.uk/space/nasa-moon-artemis-launch-changes-b2930979.htmlAs we wait for the historic Artemis II mission with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen on board NASA has announced major changes to the Artemis program.
The next mission, Artemis III, will no longer land humans on the surface of the moon, but will instead feature a series of technology tests in Low Earth orbit. Artemis IV will then be the first human landing on the moon, sometime in 2028.
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Its true that Artemis III will now not be the first human landing on the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972. Instead, the mission will launch the Orion crew capsule with astronauts on board into Low Earth orbit, where they will conduct in-space testing of critical technologies, including life support, propulsion and communications systems.
While in orbit, its also hoped that Orion will rendezvous and dock with one, or both, of the commercially developed lunar landers built by the companies SpaceX and Blue Origin. This makes sense as the original Artemis plan went from Artemis II straight to the surface without testing out these critical aspects of the mission.
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Fiendish Thingy
(22,790 posts)I just hope nobody gets killed.
Bluetus
(2,633 posts)JBTaurus83
(1,104 posts)That we did this over 50 years ago, and its such a boondoggle now? Seems like nothing other than a gravy train of money to contractors.
DetroitLegalBeagle
(2,488 posts)Funding is lower in comparison and subject to random budgetary whims from congress. Since its a government agency, procurement and contracting for basically everything has to run through the same political filter as the DoD, so various congress people force NASA to use suppliers and companies in their own states or districts regardless of if they were the best. Look at the shuttle replacement program. Total fucking disaster of a program. Way behind schedule, way over budget, and they are still reusing shuttle era tech because someone in congress wanted to make sure someone in their state maintained that contract. And after the shuttle disasters, nasa got very risk adverse. To the point that everything is slowed down for safety. Not saying that's a bad thing when it comes to lives, but its bled into even unmanned missions because a failure there could lead to a funding cut next year.