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With the delays, the expected human return to the satellite moves further away, while NASA prioritizes safety and technical adjustments.
The long-awaited human return to the Moon, which has not taken place since 1972, has been officially postponed by NASA. The Artemis 2 and Artemis 3 missions, which will mark the historic return, have suffered significant delays. The first crew of new astronauts on the Moon is now scheduled to take off only in 2027.
Since December 19, 1972, no human has set foot on the lunar surface. The three Apollo 17 astronauts ended an era of exploration, but NASA has ambitious plans to change that. However, last week, the agency confirmed that the Artemis missions, scheduled to rewrite the history of space exploration, will have their dates changed.
NASA will fly around the Moon first
Artemis 2, which will carry four astronauts on a flight around the Moon, was initially planned for September 2025, but has been postponed to April 2026. Artemis 3, which will finally carry new astronauts to the Moon, is now scheduled for mid-2027, with no specific date set.
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“Space is demanding,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said at a news conference, saying the adjustments are needed to ensure the Orion capsule is fully prepared to safely take astronauts into deep space and back.
The main focus is on the Orion capsule's heat shield. During NASA's Artemis 1 mission tests in late 2022, uneven degradation of the material was observed upon re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. Although the internal temperature remained stable, engineers are trying to prevent any failure by adjusting the re-entry trajectory and moving the capsule's landing site in the Pacific Ocean closer to San Diego, California.
First mission of female and black astronauts to visit the Moon
Artemis 3 promises to be a historic milestone: it will be the first mission to take female and black astronauts to visit the Moon. While the crew for this mission has not yet been defined, the names of Artemis 2 have already been announced. Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch (all from NASA) and Jeremy Hansen (from Canada) are training intensively, including in Iceland, where they simulate lunar soil conditions for the 2026 journey.
Even with delays, human return to the Moon carries a unique emotion and reinforces the importance of safety in every detail. After all, when the new astronauts on the Moon finally reach the satellite, it will be a moment that will be remembered in the history of space exploration, and, of course, in our hearts. “Let’s make a mark!” It may take a few more years, but NASA guarantees: the wait will be worth it.
