[🇺🇸] NASA's Moon Mission

[Saif]

Date of Event: Feb 2, 2026

Source: https://www.newagebd.net/post/space/289798/nasa-delays-moon-mission-over-frigid-weather

NASA delays Moon mission over frigid weather
Agence France-Presse . Washington, United States 31 January, 2026, 21:57

AFP photo

NASA on Friday pushed back the earliest date that astronauts could fly to the Moon, due to forecasts of freezing temperatures at the Florida launch site.

The earliest window for the moonshot will now be February 8, two days later than originally scheduled.

NASA was preparing to conduct a key fuelling test over the weekend of the 322-foot rocket that is on the Cape Canaveral launch pad in Florida. But large parts of the United States are grappling with severe winter weather, with Arctic air surging across the country following a deadly winter storm.

Florida is not immune: the normally sunny state could experience its lowest temperatures in decades that are forecast to hover around freezing.

‘The expected weather this weekend would violate launch conditions,’ NASA said in a statement.

Weather permitting, NASA crews now are aiming to conduct their final tests Monday, after which a launch date will be determined.

The change narrows the possibility that NASA can launch their Artemis 2 team of four astronauts on their Moon flyby in February—just three days of potential windows remain in that month.

The team remains in quarantine in Houston, NASA said.

Heaters are atop the Orion capsule to ensure it stays warm, the US space agency said, and purging systems are in place and configured for the colder weather to maintain proper conditions.

NASA officials are also preparing to launch a crew to the International Space Station, a mission that is being closely coordinated as it is currently planned to happen within days of a potential Artemis 2 launch.

The next NASA crew rotation to the ISS could happen as soon as February 11, but depending on the Artemis plans, it could get delayed.

‘Our teams have worked very carefully to see how we can keep moving towards launch for both missions, while at the same time making sure we avoid any major conflicts,’ said Ken Bowersox, an administrator at NASA’s space operations mission directorate, during a briefing Friday.

There’s a possibility that Crew-12 could get some overlapping space time with the Moon team, a prospect that ISS astronauts said Friday they’d enjoy.

‘If we do launch before Artemis, we’ll be on board the International Space Station, and part of their flight plan actually involves a call to the ISS,’ said Jessica Meir, the crew’s commander who said they’d be ‘excited’ to have some intra-space conversation with their colleagues.

‘We are all thrilled about the launch of Artemis. We are very excited to see how this will all play out.’

The Crew-12 team to ISS also includes Sophie Adenot, who will be the second Frenchwoman to fly to space.

In another noteworthy tidbit, the new February 8 window for a potential launch to the Moon falls on the same day as the highly watched Super Bowl, the National Football League championship.

That launch window would open at 0420 GMT on February 9 in Florida — soon after the game would likely wrap.​

 

[Krishna with Flute]

Wish them great success. Successful moon mission of US will increase the mankind's knowledge on Moon and case study of the same will help India and other countries to carry out successful missions in future.

 

[Saif]

NASA moves moon rocket to launch pad ahead of Artemis 2 mission

NASA on Saturday rolled out its towering SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft as it began preparations for its first crewed mission to the Moon in more than 50 years...

www.newagebd.net

NASA moves moon rocket to launch pad ahead of Artemis 2 mission
Agence France-Presse . United States 18 January, 2026, 23:41

NASA on Saturday rolled out its towering SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft as it began preparations for its first crewed mission to the Moon in more than 50 years.

The maneuver, which takes up to 12 hours, will allow the US space agency to begin a string of tests for the Artemis 2 mission, which could blast off as early as February 6.

The immense orange and white Space Launch System rocket and the Orion vessel were slowly wheeled out of the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and painstakingly moved four miles to Launch Pad 39B.Astronomy

If the tests are all satisfactory, three Americans and one Canadian will head to the Moon sometime between February 6 and the end of April — they will not land, but instead fly around Earth’s satellite.

The mission — which would last about 10 days — would be a huge step towards Americans once again setting foot on the lunar surface, a goal announced by president Donald Trump in his first term.

‘We’re making history,’ Artemis 2 mission management team chair John Honeycutt told a press conference on Friday.

US astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, along with Canada’s Jeremy Hansen, were on site Saturday for the rocket’s rollout.

‘I’m actually pretty pumped to see that,’ Hansen told reporters. ‘In just a few weeks, you’re going to see four humans fly around the moon, and if we’re doing that now, imagine what we can do next.’

Glover added: ‘We’re swinging for the fence, trying to make the impossible possible.’

Before the mission can take off, engineers must ensure the SLS rocket is safe and viable. After a battery of tests, a pre-launch simulation will be carried out.

The uncrewed Artemis 1 mission took place in November 2022 after multiple postponements and two failed launch attempts.

NASA hopes to put humans back on the Moon as China forges ahead with a rival effort that is targeting 2030 at the latest for its first crewed mission.

Its uncrewed Chang’e 7 mission is expected to be launched in 2026 for an exploration of the Moon’s south pole, and testing of its crewed spacecraft Mengzhou is also set to go ahead this year.

NASA is hoping that the Moon could be used to help prepare future missions to Mars.

But the program has been plagued by delays.

The US space agency surprised many late last year when it said Artemis 2 could happen as soon as February — an acceleration explained by the Trump administration’s wish to beat China to the punch.

Artemis 3, currently scheduled for 2027, is expected to be pushed back, as industry experts say Elon Musk’s SpaceX is behind on delivering the Starship megarocket needed for the mission.​

 

[Saif]

Astronauts blast off for historic US lunar journey

Four astronauts blasted off aboard a massive NASA rocket Wednesday on a long-anticipated journey around the Moon, the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years.

www.newagebd.net

Astronauts blast off for historic US lunar journey
Agence France-Presse. United States 02 April, 2026, 05:59

Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II mission specialist, NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot, Reid Wiseman, Artemis II commander, and Christina Koch, Artemis II mission specialist, walk out before traveling to the launch pad to board the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket for the Artemis II crewed lunar mission at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on April 1, 2026. On Wednesday three men and one woman are set to embark on the first crewed journey to the Moon since 1972, a landmark odyssey that aims to launch the US into a new era of space exploration. The NASA mission dubbed Artemis 2 has been years in the making after facing repeated setbacks, but is finally scheduled to take off from Florida as early as April 1 at 6:24 pm (Local Time) | AFP Photo

Four astronauts blasted off aboard a massive NASA rocket Wednesday on a long-anticipated journey around the Moon, the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years.

With an intense roar that reverberated far beyond the launchpad the enormous orange-and-white rocket carried three Americans and one Canadian away from Florida's Kennedy Space Center at approximately 6:35 pm local time.

NASA teams and spectators alike cheered on the spacecraft as it ascended away from Earth, a milestone that finally came to fruition after years of delays and massive cost overruns.

‘We're going to the Moon!’ exclaimed one onlooker.

During final checks before Artemis 2 was deemed a go for launch, astronauts gave brief words: ‘We are going for all humanity,’ said the Canadian aboard, Jeremy Hansen.

Artemis launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson then addressed the astronauts directly.

‘Reid, Victor, Christina and Jeremy: On this historic mission, you take with you the heart of this Artemis team, the daring spirit of the American people and our partners across the globe, and the hopes and dreams of a new generation. Good luck. God speed Artemis 2. Let's go,’ she said.

The weather was not quite perfect but close to it, with a 90 per cent chance of conditions suitable for launch.

The team, clad in bright orange suits with blue trim, includes Americans Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch along with Canadian Hansen.

The first steps involving performing various checks to ensure the reliability and safety of the spacecraft -- it has never carried humans before -- before venturing forth on the approximately 10-day journey in which they'll hurtle around the Moon without landing.

They will also test its manual piloting capabilities during docking simulations.

Repeated setbacks

The journey marks a series of historic accomplishments: it will send the first person of color, the first woman and the first non-American on a lunar mission.

If the mission proceeds as planned, the astronauts will set a record by venturing farther from Earth than any human before.

It is also the inaugural crewed flight of NASA's new lunar rocket, dubbed the Space Launch System (SLS).

The mammoth orange-and-white rocket is designed to allow the United States to repeatedly return to the Moon, with the goal of establishing a permanent base that will offer a platform for further exploration.

The mission was originally due to launch as early as February.

But repeated setbacks stalled it and even necessitated rolling the rocket back to its hangar for analysis and repairs.

Some 400,000 people were expected to gather near the so-called Space Coast to watch history in the making, according to local authorities.

Beyond the Stars

The Artemis programme was facing pressure from President Donald Trump, who has pushed the pace of a programme that aims to see boots hit the lunar surface before his second term ends in early 2029.

Artemis 2's objectives include verifying that both the rocket and the spacecraft are in working order to pave the way for a Moon landing in 2028.

That deadline has raised eyebrows among experts, in part because Washington is relying on the private sector's technological headway.

The current era of American lunar investment has frequently been portrayed as an effort to compete with China, which is aiming to land humans on the Moon by 2030.

Trump will be tied up Wednesday evening addressing the nation in his first such speech since US and Israeli forces began strikes on Iran on February 28, igniting a regional war and a global energy crisis.

But he took a moment to drop a line on social media ahead of the planned launch.

‘We are WINNING, in Space, on Earth, and everywhere in between -- Economically, Militarily, and now, BEYOND THE STARS. Nobody comes close! America doesn't just compete, we DOMINATE, and the whole World is watching,’ Trump posted on Truth Social.​

 

[Krishna with Flute]

Astronauts blast off for historic US lunar journey

Four astronauts blasted off aboard a massive NASA rocket Wednesday on a long-anticipated journey around the Moon, the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years.

www.newagebd.net

Astronauts blast off for historic US lunar journey
Agence France-Presse. United States 02 April, 2026, 05:59

View attachment 25436
Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II mission specialist, NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot, Reid Wiseman, Artemis II commander, and Christina Koch, Artemis II mission specialist, walk out before traveling to the launch pad to board the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket for the Artemis II crewed lunar mission at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on April 1, 2026. On Wednesday three men and one woman are set to embark on the first crewed journey to the Moon since 1972, a landmark odyssey that aims to launch the US into a new era of space exploration. The NASA mission dubbed Artemis 2 has been years in the making after facing repeated setbacks, but is finally scheduled to take off from Florida as early as April 1 at 6:24 pm (Local Time) | AFP Photo

Four astronauts blasted off aboard a massive NASA rocket Wednesday on a long-anticipated journey around the Moon, the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years.

With an intense roar that reverberated far beyond the launchpad the enormous orange-and-white rocket carried three Americans and one Canadian away from Florida's Kennedy Space Center at approximately 6:35 pm local time.

NASA teams and spectators alike cheered on the spacecraft as it ascended away from Earth, a milestone that finally came to fruition after years of delays and massive cost overruns.

‘We're going to the Moon!’ exclaimed one onlooker.

During final checks before Artemis 2 was deemed a go for launch, astronauts gave brief words: ‘We are going for all humanity,’ said the Canadian aboard, Jeremy Hansen.

Artemis launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson then addressed the astronauts directly.

‘Reid, Victor, Christina and Jeremy: On this historic mission, you take with you the heart of this Artemis team, the daring spirit of the American people and our partners across the globe, and the hopes and dreams of a new generation. Good luck. God speed Artemis 2. Let's go,’ she said.

The weather was not quite perfect but close to it, with a 90 per cent chance of conditions suitable for launch.

The team, clad in bright orange suits with blue trim, includes Americans Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch along with Canadian Hansen.

The first steps involving performing various checks to ensure the reliability and safety of the spacecraft -- it has never carried humans before -- before venturing forth on the approximately 10-day journey in which they'll hurtle around the Moon without landing.

They will also test its manual piloting capabilities during docking simulations.

Repeated setbacks

The journey marks a series of historic accomplishments: it will send the first person of color, the first woman and the first non-American on a lunar mission.

If the mission proceeds as planned, the astronauts will set a record by venturing farther from Earth than any human before.

It is also the inaugural crewed flight of NASA's new lunar rocket, dubbed the Space Launch System (SLS).

The mammoth orange-and-white rocket is designed to allow the United States to repeatedly return to the Moon, with the goal of establishing a permanent base that will offer a platform for further exploration.

The mission was originally due to launch as early as February.

But repeated setbacks stalled it and even necessitated rolling the rocket back to its hangar for analysis and repairs.

Some 400,000 people were expected to gather near the so-called Space Coast to watch history in the making, according to local authorities.

Beyond the Stars

The Artemis programme was facing pressure from President Donald Trump, who has pushed the pace of a programme that aims to see boots hit the lunar surface before his second term ends in early 2029.

Artemis 2's objectives include verifying that both the rocket and the spacecraft are in working order to pave the way for a Moon landing in 2028.

That deadline has raised eyebrows among experts, in part because Washington is relying on the private sector's technological headway.

The current era of American lunar investment has frequently been portrayed as an effort to compete with China, which is aiming to land humans on the Moon by 2030.

Trump will be tied up Wednesday evening addressing the nation in his first such speech since US and Israeli forces began strikes on Iran on February 28, igniting a regional war and a global energy crisis.

But he took a moment to drop a line on social media ahead of the planned launch.

‘We are WINNING, in Space, on Earth, and everywhere in between -- Economically, Militarily, and now, BEYOND THE STARS. Nobody comes close! America doesn't just compete, we DOMINATE, and the whole World is watching,’ Trump posted on Truth Social.​

Best of luck. Bring new information of moon to increase the knowledge of moon by mankind.

 

[Saif]

Artemis II astronauts return to Earth after 10-day Moon mission

The NASA spacecraft that carried four astronauts around the Moon splashed down as planned Friday into the Pacific Ocean.

www.thedailystar.net

Artemis II astronauts return to Earth after 10-day Moon mission

Reuters

This video grab made from a NASA livestream shows Artemis II astronauts splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California, on April 10, 2026. AFP

The Artemis II capsule and its four-member crew streaked through Earth's atmosphere and safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday after nearly 10 days in space, capping the first voyage by humans to the vicinity of the moon in over half a century.

NASA's gumdrop-shaped Orion capsule, dubbed Integrity, parachuted gently into the sea off the Southern California coast shortly after 5 p.m. PT, concluding a mission that took the astronauts deeper into space than anyone had flown before.

The Artemis II flight, traveling a total of 694,392 miles (1,117,515 km) across two Earth orbits and a climactic lunar flyby some 252,000 miles away, was the debut crewed test flight in a series of Artemis missions that aim to start landing astronauts on the lunar surface starting in 2028.

The splashdown, about two hours before sunset, was carried by live video feed in a NASA webcast.

Recovery teams were standing by to secure the floating capsule and retrieve the crew - U.S. astronauts Reid Wiseman, 50, Victor Glover, 49, and Christina Koch, 47, along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, 50.

The crew's homecoming cleared a critical final hurdle for the Lockheed Martin-built LMT.N Orion spacecraft, proving it would withstand the extreme forces of re-entry from a lunar-return trajectory.

It followed a white-knuckle, 13-minute fiery plunge through Earth's atmosphere, generating frictional heat that sent temperatures on the capsule's exterior soaring to some 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,760 degrees Celsius).

At the peak of re-entry stress, as expected, intense heat and air compression formed a red-hot sheath of ionized gas, or plasma, that engulfed the capsule, cutting off radio communications with the crew for several minutes.

The tension broke as contact was re-established and two sets of parachutes were seen billowing from the nose of the free-falling capsule, slowing its descent to about 15 mph (25 kph) before Orion gently hit the water.

It was expected to take NASA and U.S. Navy teams about an hour to secure the floating capsule and assist the four astronauts out of the vehicle and fly them to a nearby recovery ship to undergo an initial medical checkup.

STEPPING STONE TO MARS

The quartet blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on April 1, lofted into an initial Earth orbit by NASA's giant Space Launch System rocket before sailing on for a rare journey around the far side of the moon.

In so doing, they became the first astronauts to fly in the vicinity of Earth's only natural satellite since the Apollo program of the 1960s and '70s. Glover, Koch and Hansen also made history as the first Black astronaut, the first woman and first non-U.S. citizen, respectively, to take part in a lunar mission.

At the flight's peak, the Artemis astronauts reached a point 252,756 miles from Earth, exceeding the previous record of roughly 248,000 miles set in 1970 by the crew of Apollo 13.

The voyage, following the uncrewed Artemis I test flight around the moon by the Orion spacecraft in 2022, marked a critical dress rehearsal for a planned attempt later this decade to land astronauts on the lunar surface for the first time since Apollo 17 in late 1972.

The ultimate goal of the Artemis program is to establish a long-term presence on the moon as a stepping stone to eventual human exploration of Mars.

In a historical parallel to the Cold War era of Apollo, the Artemis II mission has played out against a backdrop of political and social turmoil, including a U.S. military conflict that has proven unpopular at home.

Unlike the Apollo era, when the United States was racing to land astronauts on the moon ahead of the Soviet Union, the Artemis program is seeking to beat China.

For many in a global audience captivated by the latest moon shot, it reaffirmed the achievements of science and technology at a time when big tech has become widely distrusted, even feared. Opinion polling showed broad public support for the aims of the mission.

The return to Earth put the Orion spacecraft through a critical test of its heat shield, which sustained an unexpected level of scorching and stress on re-entry during its 2022 test flight. As a result, NASA engineers altered the descent trajectory for Artemis II in order to reduce heat buildup and lower the risk of the capsule burning up.

Last week's successful launch was a major milestone for the SLS rocket, handing its principal contractors, Boeing BA.N and Northrop Grumman NOC.N, long-sought validation that the launch system more than a decade in development was ready to safely fly humans to space.​