Artemis 3 Moon mission likely to be delayed until 2027. Here's what stopping NASA

NASA's ambitions to land humans on Moon by mid-2020s has taken a big hit. A new study released by US Government Accountability Office (GAO) has said that Artemis 3 mission is unlikely to take off until at least early 2027.

Artemis 3 mission is part of NASA's Artemis Program which aims to land first woman and person of colour on Moon. Initially targeted for launch in 2025, mission is being delayed due to multiple challenges in its development.

Starship and suits biggest hurdle on way to Moon

NASA has awarded X two contracts worth over $4 billion since 2021 to develop its Starship rocket for landing on Moon starting Artemis 3. It's same Starship which has launched twice - first on April 20 and again on vember 23 - but has failed to prove its flight reiness. Both missions failed in explosion of rocket few minutes after lift off.

Based on data from NASA and interviews with ncy officials, GAO concluded that one of reasons for delay is failed test flights of Starship.

" delays were caused in part by Orbital Flight Test, which was intended to demonstrate certain features of launch vehicle and lander configuration in flight," GAO said.

It also said that as of September 2023, Human Landing System program (for Starship) h delayed eight of 13 key events by at least six months.

This report by GAO comes six months after NASA expressed concerns about delay due to Starship's n-reiness. X has endorsed Starship as holy grail of interplanetary travel and for missions to Mars.

However, just getting Starship to orbit won't fulfill NASA's requirement as X also needs to develop in-orbit fuelling for its journey ahe to Moon.

"X must complete a significant amount of complex technical work to support Artemis III lunar landing mission, including developing ability to store and transfer propellant while in orbit," GOA report said.

"A critical aspect of X's plan for landing astronauts on moon for Artemis III is launching multiple tankers that will transfer propellant to a depot in before transferring that propellant to human landing system," it furr said ting that X has me limited progress in maturing required techlogies.

Ar major hurdle on way to Moon is suit which Axiom is designing for astronauts. NASA picked Axiom in September 2022 for design and development of vanced Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) suit to be worn by lunar explorers on surface.

In March this year, Axiom unveiled a proto of its suit incorporated with latest techlogy while promising enhance mobility and ded protection from hazards at Moon.  

suit also has challenges related to its design as Axiom might have to tweak techlogies a bit. 

NASA w reportedly wants a minimum of 60 minutes of emergency life support for astronauts.

"NASA's original design did t provide minimum amount of emergency life support needed for Artemis III mission. As a result, Axiom representatives said y may redesign certain aspects of suit, which could delay its delivery for mission," GOA report said.