U.S. Return to Moon’s Surface Delayed to 2025

Tuesday, November 09, 2021 at 10:30 PM ET

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Illustration of SpaceX Starship human lander design aimed at carrying NASA astronauts to the surface of the Moon under Artemis. SpaceX

Key Takeaways:

NASA has officially confirmed that the Artemis program's goal of returning humans to the moon will be delayed from its original 2024 target to no earlier than 2025.
The primary reasons for the delay include issues with the development of the Artemis Orion astronaut capsule and a lengthy legal battle between SpaceX and Blue Origin over the lunar lander contract.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson also cited insufficient congressional funding for the human landing system and the previous administration's unrealistic 2024 target as contributing factors.
Despite the setbacks, NASA aims to proceed aggressively, driven by competition from the Chinese space program, to land the first woman and first person of color on the moon.

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Americans will not be returning to the surface of the moon until at least 2025, NASA said Tuesday, confirming for the first time the agency will not make its original 2024 deadline.

During a teleconference with reporters updating its Artemis Program, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson blamed delays in developing the Artemis Orion astronaut capsule as well as a long legal battle between SpaceX and Blue Origin over the program’s lunar lander.