Lunar missions have been delayed, and astronauts will not return to the Moon until 2026

NASA will not send astronauts to the moon again until 2026. Technical problems and safety concerns are delaying the Artemis 2 mission and the Artemis 3 mission. “The moon program is not in danger, but we have to be a little patient,” says space expert Rob van den Berg. “So NASA can make sure everything is safe.”

The delay is due to problems with the delivery of parts of the spacesuits and problems with the Peregrine lunar lander. This lunar lander has been successfully tested previously, but is now showing flaws. This is a setback, according to van den Berg.

NASA recently stopped building all the materials itself, and for the Peregrine lunar lander, the space organization is working with startup Astrobotics. Van den Berg compares spaceships to transportation services: “You shouldn't want to develop it all yourself: it's all very expensive and time-consuming.”

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But according to Van den Bergh, postponement does not mean cancellation, as lunar missions will continue anyway. Van den Berg even says this is the beginning of long-term lunar programs that will put a permanent human presence on the moon. He added: “The moon program is not in danger, but we have to be a little patient until NASA makes sure that everything is safe.”

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It remains to be seen whether the first person to walk on the moon in fifty years will be an American. According to Van den Berg, experts take into account that if there is a further delay, it is possible that the foot is Chinese.