NASA has had to cancel its Artemis I Moon rocket mission for the third time and its billion-dollar rocket is now off the launchpad and back indoors.
As the world watches the US space agency and the mission that’s supposed to take us back to the Moon, some experts are worried that Nasa is being outshone by the likes of Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
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Space industry observer Richard Speed has been following space launches throughout his career.
He told The U.S. Sun: “To make matters worse, commercial companies, such as SpaceX, have continued to launch, often within sight of the stricken SLS, and demonstrate reusability.
“Nasa, on the other hand, has spent billions turning reusable Space Shuttle components into expendable hardware that remains resolutely stuck on the launchpad.
“There is a very real risk that NASA could be ordered to get out of the space launch business and focus on spacecraft.
“After all, a stark reminder of the willingness to abandon hardware exists across the water from the SLS launch pad in the form of a Saturn V, laid out for viewing.
“The same fate might await the Space Launch System should the funding flow be directed elsewhere.”
Nasa has not confirmed a new date for the next launch attempt of Artemis I.
It’s thought the US space agency will try again later this year.
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What is Artemis I?
The first part of the mission to put humans back on the Moon is called Artemis I and it was supposed to launch from Nasa’s Kennedy Space Center in Flordia on Monday, August 29.
However, the first launch date had to be pushed back due to a fuelling error.
The second attempt to launch encountered a similar issue and the third was scrapped before it could begin because of Storm Ian.
When it does launch, the mission will involve an up to 42-day tour around the Moon and back.
However, Nasa could cut short the mission if something goes wrong.
The flight will be testing out hardware so that Nasa can land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon by 2025.
That crewed mission is being referred to as Artemis III and a lot has to happen before it can take place.
Artemis I isn’t a crewed mission but it needs to loop around the Moon to test three key components.
These are Nasa’s Space Launch System (SLS), its Orion spacecraft, and the European Service Module (ESM).
The Orion spacecraft and the ESM should get within 62 miles of the lunar surface and then travel 40,000 miles beyond this.
Once looping around the dark side of the Moon, the rocket should land in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego.
Nasa completed a “wet dress rehearsal” of the SLS back in March and has changed the proposed launch date several times since then.
