NASA’s return to the moon is complicated. The review anticipates delays in spacecraft and suit development

“unrealistic.” This is how US government auditors describe the plans a pot To transport astronauts to the surface of the moon by 2025.

he Latest report The Government Accountability Office (GAO)’s take on Artemis III points to SpaceX and Axiom Space, two of NASA’s main suppliers for the mission, as champions of the delay.

From 2025 to 2027 at least

Artemis III It aims to land humans on the moon for the first time since the Apollo 17 mission more than 50 years ago. The mission is scheduled to be completed in December 2025, but the Government Accountability Office doubts it can be carried out before 2027.

The review cites the Human Landing System (HLS) and spacesuits for lunar astronaut operations (xEVA) as key points of interest in NASA’s ambitious plans.

The ambitious HLS spacecraft

The space agency chose the SpaceX spacecraft to transport astronauts from lunar orbit to the lunar surface (and vice versa).

SpaceX had planned to complete its development in 79 months, 13 months less than the average time it takes for large NASA projects, but the GAO sees that timeline as unlikely because there is still “a significant amount of technical work” to be done. it, including the ability to Storage and transportation of propellants in orbit.

An important aspect of SpaceX’s plan is that it will require multiple launches (between 10 and 20, according to NASA estimates) to fill the Starship HLS with fuel and oxidizer before its journey to the Moon. First, tanker missiles will be launched that deliver propellant to the tank. Finally, the deposit will transport them to the spacecraft that will land on the moon’s surface.

GAO also highlights challenges in Integrating the Starship program with the Orion spacecraft programBecause the difference in operating systems and platforms “makes it difficult to conduct comprehensive software testing.”

The report also includes issues SpaceX encountered during Starship’s first full flight test, but not the improvements the company implemented in the second test flight, nor SpaceX’s plans for Starship V2.

Axiom space suits

As for the spacesuits, NASA hired Axiom to take the reins on their development after its in-house development became a hell of a supplier and cost overruns.

The GAO says Axiom has made progress in developing the suits, but noted that They are in the early stages of developmentso they still have a long way to go before they are ready for Artemis III.

For all this, although NASA and its suppliers continue to make progress, the 2025 goal is unlikely, “unrealistic,” and it is likely that we will not see humans on the Moon, at least, until early 2027.

This is if NASA does not decide to skip the moon landing completely Conversion of Artemis III to a manned mission to the Gateway lunar stationif it is in orbit by then.

Image | Axiom

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