NASA administrators announced an updated timeline Tuesday for humanity's return to the Moon under the Artemis program. Persistent legal challenges have ruled out a 2024 landing, pushing back this historic milestone.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson led the briefing, addressing Blue Origin's rejected complaint that sought a second provider for lunar landers under the HLS program.
The U.S. federal court case triggered a seven-month contract suspension, halting progress for SpaceX and NASA. This latest setback shifts the first crewed lunar landing to "at the earliest in 2025," Nelson stated.
"I spoke last Friday with Gwynne Shotwell," Nelson noted, referencing SpaceX's COO. "This marked our first HLS discussion, where we both emphasized safely accelerating the Moon return."
Launched by the Trump administration in spring 2019, the Artemis program aimed for a 2024 lunar landing under then-Vice President Mike Pence—a technically ambitious goal NASA had never officially disavowed until now.
Artemis 1 remains on track as an uncrewed lunar orbit mission (expected in 2022). Artemis 2 will follow no later than May 2024 with crew in lunar orbit.
However, Artemis 3 now requires a preliminary uncrewed Starship landing to validate safe touchdown and ascent from the Moon. No specific date was provided for this test.
Meanwhile, SpaceX advances its Starship system, targeting an orbital test flight in 2022 pending FAA approval.
