NASA Acting Administrator Steve Jurczyk announced that the Artemis program will land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon.
The Biden administration recently proposed a $24.7 billion budget to Congress for fiscal year 2022 discretionary spending. This includes increased funding for NASA to advance the Mars sample return mission, climate science, and the Artemis program. In his statement, Jurczyk confirmed the agency's commitment to bringing "the first person of color to the Moon."
Two years ago, under President Trump, NASA pledged to "land the first woman on the lunar surface within five years." To date, only 12 people— all American white men—have walked on the Moon.
This announcement aligns with President Biden's goal to "pursue a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all."
The funding request sheds light on the administration's science priorities. A detailed comprehensive budget is expected soon.
The Trump administration targeted a human Moon landing by 2024. The Biden administration has yet to confirm this timeline, with experts suggesting a possible delay to 2025 or 2026.
NASA plans to select the lunar lander provider by April 30, from finalists Blue Origin, Dynetics, and SpaceX.
Artemis I is slated for launch in November 2021 from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39 in Florida. The Orion spacecraft, atop the Space Launch System (SLS) Block 1, will undertake this uncrewed mission.
Lasting about 26 days, Orion will approach the Moon, passing over its far side at around 150 km altitude. It will then enter a distant retrograde orbit for six days, followed by a second low pass, before returning to splash down in the Pacific Ocean.
