As the countdown for the planned return of astronauts, to the
Moon through. NASA's Artemis program runs down
to December of twenty twenty-five, looming
uncertainties with the development of spacex's
colossal, 400-foot tall, Starship rocket pose, potential
delays. This possible setback stems from
ongoing difficulties in the development of the Starship, a
vehicle intended to transport Part two astronauts to and from
the lunar surface, NASA's exploration systems development
Mission. Directorate leader, Jim free
voices were he's hinting at a probable shift of the schedule
into 2026 about a year later. And he said, the current
timeline for the first astronaut moon landing under Artemis
program. Termed Artemis 3 is set for
December of 2025 free said during the national academies
Aeronautics and Space Engineering board meeting Andy
further, convey, Apprehension over the challenges faced by
SpaceX, which might push the deadline even further.
Now. Before undertaking, a lunar
Voyage, the Starship must first prove its capability for orbital
travel spacex's first attempt to test.
This involved an integrated Flight of the Starship, atop B
33 engines super-heavy booster this initiative launched from
SpaceX is Starbase facility in south Texas in April transmitted
essential performance data back to Earth and back to SpaceX
headquarters. The company declared test
flight, a success in this is, despite the rocket spinning out
of control, due to multiple engine failures and eventually
it was destroyed by a self-activated destruction
system. Now SpaceX ground teams found
themselves, tasked with rectifying damage to the Texas
launch pad and reinforcing ground infrastructure.
And if all goes well, the next SpaceX super-heavy Starship test
launch might occur by the end of the summer as indicated by CEO
of SpaceX. Elon Musk.
However, the Starship moon lander is in the only Cog in the
Artemis missions mechanism. That could cause setbacks last
year, NASA selected Axiom, space to develop a new more flexible
space suit to protect lunar bound.
Astronauts the new suit expected to debut in the Artemis 3
mission. Surpasses NASA's existing design
in terms of suitability for the reduced gravity environment of
the moon but its creation like the SpaceX Starship Landing.
Under May delay. This Mission as identified by
NASA's Inspector General. Now free emphasizes the SpaceX
is obligation to deliver according to their fixed price.
Contract, with NASA, and NASA hit.
Awarded a 2.9 billion dollar contract to SpaceX and 2021, to
furnish a Starship vehicle as a human Landing system.
For the Artemis 3 mission. This marked an attempt to revive
crew Landings on the moon for the first time since 1972 in the
contract. Stipulates the any No, expenses
are rising from delays or design, alterations lies,
squarely on SpaceX, not with NASA.
And while some delay in the Artemis, three missions launched
in 2026 is anticipated. It still presents a formidable
challenge. The NASA inspector General's,
2021 report revealed that the moon lander might not be ready
for crew, flights until 2028 based on the average delay of
major NASA space flight programs, the Artemis for
mission. Slated, for launch in, September
of 2028 is also subject to possible.
Delays do the construction of a new mobile launcher Tower at
the, Kennedy Space Center and the presence of a larger Boeing
built upper stage on a space launch system Moon rocket the
sesa Tate's, a new launch platform.
A situation that may strain the 2028 launch schedule in despite
the prevailing uncertainties NASA remains hopeful about
SpaceX meeting its obligations with an updated Starship
schedule submitted. SpaceX under review NASA's,
expectations of the privates Aerospace manufacturer success
and fulfilling, its commitments remain very high in the firm's
performance. However, will be the ultimate
determinant of the Artemis programs timeline.
As they put it, they just have to get this thing.
Flying NASA's free, assertions underscored the looming
challenges on spacex's path to facilitate human moon, landings
after nearly five decades, his I pointed remarks have sparked
widespread discussions within and outside NASA, primarily due
to the potential influence, they may have on the scheduled
Artemis missions. They said masses engagement with
SpaceX hinges on a firm fixed price contract which stipulates
that their primary obligation is to deliver his assertive or
marks. Reflect the mounting pressure on
SpaceX to rise to the occasion and honor the commitment of
ensuring astronauts land on the Moon, by the stipulated time
line. The 2.9 billion dollar contract
that SpaceX earned from NASA. In 2021 emphasizes the creation
of a Starship vehicle for the Artemis. 3 mission marking
Humanities return to the lunar surface, since the historic
Apollo missions. Now, the Starship vehicle part a
SpaceX is proposal, for the hls, was the most cost-effective bid
submitted in 2021 posting more cargo capacity than other
competitors. And since securing this
contract, NASA has entered a separate agreement with SpaceX
for a second Starship ladder. Or the Artemis or Mission and
also awarded blue origin. A contract for a human rated
Lander for Artemis, five aiming for the moon, a crew of four
will be launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on board.
The space launch system rocket and the Orion spacecraft the
same Duo underwent successful test flights around the moon,
the previous year during the unmanned Artemis.
One mission. Meanwhile, a second test flight,
the Artemis to Mission is penciled in for late 2024.
The crew of four is set to be sent around the moon's Far Side
before. Are making their return journey
to Earth at the heart of the Artemis 3 mission is the Orion
capsule entrusted with transporting.
The astronauts to the Moon as vicinity were spacex's
human-rated. Starship, Lander will be ready
to meet with them, towering it, 15 stories tall.
The Starship Lander is designed to write a top.
Spacex's new super heavy booster, the massive reusable
rocket currently being developed by SpaceX and once the Starship
Lander reaches a few hundred miles above the Earth, it will
be Filled with methane and liquid oxygen methyl Ox
propellants, using a series of Starship tanker Vehicles.
Now, this design of SpaceX is Starship is sent to have
multiple iterations and compassing tankers propellant,
Depots moon, lander satellite launch vehicles in deep space
crew Transporters. Now once in lunar orbit, the
Orion spacecraft is slated to dock with the Starship Lander
from there, to astronauts will enter the Starship to embark on
a descent towards a landing site near the Moon's.
South Pole, the remaining two astronauts will stay aboard the
Orion capsule as it orbits. The moon following several days
of lunar exploration. The Starship will return to
space Rendezvous living with the Orion spacecraft to reunite the
four-person crew before the Orion capsule finally returns
the astronauts to Earth. However, the exact number of
tanker, launches required to support a single Starship flight
to the Moon remains Under Wraps by both SpaceX and NASA space.
His contract with NASA also includes an unmanned Starship
demo landing on the moon preceding the Artemis 3 mission
to fulfill the requirements set by NASA.
Space X will have to execute a significant number of launches a
pivotal milestone. In the pathway, to the Starships
unmanned demonstration landing on the moon is testing, spacex's
ship-to-ship cryogenic, propellant transfer system.
This key technology is required for any mission that wishes to
send Starship Beyond low earth. Thor.
But SpaceX and NASA have decided to postpone, the critical design
review for the Starship moon lander.
Until after SpaceX has demonstrated as a successful
propellant, transfer this delay is reflective of the technical
challenges in the complexity involved in propellant transfer
in space. I'll be on this.
There are other technical hurdles that SpaceX will need to
overcome for instance. There are questions about the
human rating process for Starship.
Historically NASA has used a stringent process to certify
vehicles. As for human spaceflight to
ensure safety, which includes various design reviews testing
and also standards for redundancy, the process can take
years and it is unclear how this will be handled with SpaceX a
Starship. This is particularly challenging
because Space X tends to employed an iterative
development process with frequent design changes and
improvements being made. Also at stake is a companies
need to prove that it can reliably recover and reuse.
It's super heavy boosters while SpaceX has become proficient at
Landing, its Falcon 9. First stages.
The super-heavy booster is a much larger and more complicated
vehicle. Its successful recovery will be
vital for SpaceX has Ambitions to make space travel more
affordable and sustainable for everybody.
And as of now only a few static fires of the super-heavy and the
initial In Flight tests have happened.
In the meantime, SpaceX has faced criticism over its
approach to environmental and safety standards.
They've been concerns about the impact of Starship testing and
development activities. As SpaceX is Boca Chica site in
Texas with some environmental groups and local residents,
raising issues of noise pollution and disruption of
wildlife. Then there's the pressure from
other competitors of the space industry.
The awarding of the lunar lander contract.
The SpaceX was met with protests from other companies.
Knees blue origin which lodged a protest with the US government
accountability office. The GAO and the GAO denied the
protest but blue origin and its Partners in the national team.
Consortium have continued to press for a second hls contract
and they were awarded this contract in the face of all
these challenges SpaceX Remains undeterred.
The company has a history of overcoming hurdles, whether they
be technical bureaucratic or competitive, it's revolutionized
a space industry by making. A reality and reducing launch
costs significantly. Many believe that if anyone can
deliver them, these ambitious timelines, and Technical
requirements of the Artemis program.
It would be SpaceX and Elon Musk.
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