Artemis Moon Program

[southwestforests]

Artemis isn't even shifting the needle compared to 1960s spaceflight principles

That may not be the manner of lack it might feel like at first glance:
after all,
aircraft haven't shifted the needle from 1910s aerodynamic principles, they still require wings, require production of lift, require propulsion machinery which itself moves air, just like aircraft did in 1910.
and
automobiles haven't shifted the needle from 1880s automotive principles, they still require wheels, tires/tyres, roads, power sources, infrastructure to supply and maintain those power sources. Yeah yeah, so there are drivererless cars, big whoopee, show me the driverless cars which have no wheels, require no roads, and do not have a powersource which needs periodic replenishing.
and
then there are the boats and ships which still rely on principles which are thousands of years old, yeah, yeah, yeah, we've changed propulsion from oars to sails to nuclear-electric plants turning screw propellors, and we've advanced construction material from wood to metal to synthetic composites, so?, they still get designed with displacement and wetted area and load limits and ... and ...; show me a ship which has no surfaces in contact with the water and therefore no frictional drag and now we'll have something to talk about.

 

[publiusr]

These days the biggest thing going for it is that it isn’t Elon’s rocket. Some otherwise red states that are SLS states may be a stumbling block…tax dollars can go to a union rocket-or a union buster’s rocket…with ties to China…No Pinkerton fan here.

Another’s view on Starship

Starship Flight 8 DISCUSSION : Starbase TX : 6 March 2025 (23:30 UTC)

Starship Flight 8 DISCUSSION : Starbase TX : 6 March 2025 (23:30 UTC)

forum.nasaspaceflight.com

Alpaca on the other hand, is perhaps getting a second look

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Qu9KkCra4L0

 

[Grey Havoc]

https://news.usni.org/2025/04/03/navy-warship-getting-ready-for-role-in-artemis-nasa-moon-mission

NASA's Artemis 2 astronauts reveal moon mission patch to honor 'AII'

This is NASA's first mission patch to represent a crewed flight to the moon in more than 50 years.

www.space.com

NASA proves its electric moon dust shield works on the lunar surface

"This milestone marks a significant step toward sustaining long-term lunar and interplanetary operations."

www.space.com

 

[Rhinocrates]

Following two failures by Intuitive Machines due to elementary design mistakes that SpaceX is determined to repeat, compounded by extreme overdesign, Dynetics' Alpaca does seem like a good option for the first return to the Moon missions - or so the Angry Astronaut says.

IIRC, Dynetics was rejected because Alpaca couldn't meet the mass requirements. OTOH, it certainly addresses the lack of smooth flat bowling greens on the moon.

Thoughts?

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qu9KkCra4L0&t=244s&ab_channel=TheAngryAstronaut

 

[Archibald]

ALPACA such a ridiculous accronym (and hairdo, too ROTFL)

 

[Kiltonge]

Thoughts?

"Orion is a mature spacecraft". Lost myself at that point.

So this narrator reckons Dynetics can go from PowerPoint to an operational Lunar lander by 2028? A company that hasn't delivered any spacecraft except participating in FASTSAT?

The design does look practical and they've been working on it for at least five years, but still...

 

[Rhinocrates]

The design does look practical and they've been working on it for at least five years, but still...

Yes, design and engineering are different things.

 

[publiusr]

At Space News a year or two back, one Disqus post had it that some of their talent left because their project proposals kept getting turned down.

That’s worrisome…you want to keep assets lively and engaged.

 

[NMaude]

Philip Sloss has another update for SLS, Orion and Artemis II:

The release of the Artemis II mission crew patch is another event symbolizing the coming launch, but will imagery like the recent SLS Core Stage to Booster mate or the patch change plans for the future of Artemis?

A few days before the patch was made public, another news story added weight to the rumors that President Trump and Elon Musk are looking at terminating SLS, freeing Musk from his Artemis lunar lander obligations, and pivoting to Musk's long-time goal of Mars. NASA Administrator nominee Jared Isaacman was said to be onboard with Trump and Musk's plans; he'll get a chance to speak to that in his confirmation hearing that was scheduled for April 9.

I'll go over that, the arrival of the Gateway HALO module in the U.S., and more Artemis II information that Exploration Ground Systems provided to the media at an event in San Diego after their landing and recovery training exercise.Imagery is courtesy of NASA, except where noted.

Links to social media posts:https://bsky.app/profile/micahmaidenb...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev....bsky.social/post/3lllvw2uccs24&v=z7a1rQ0cLns
Links to stories referenced:https://www.wsj.com/business/elon-mus...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...nasa-mars-space-travel-d3978a7b&v=z7a1rQ0cLns

00:00 Intro
01:46 WSJ story adds weight to rumors that Trump/Musk want to cancel SLS or all or Artemis
03:39 Jared Isaacman's NASA Administrator nomination hearing scheduled for April 9th
04:34 Artemis II astronauts unveil their mission patch
06:03 URT-12 media event held in San Diego after EGS landing and recovery certification
14:13 Gateway HALO module frame arrives in Phoenix from Turin for outfitting to become a spacecraft
16:29 Thanks for watching!

 

[NMaude]

Philip Sloss has uploaded his quarterly report for Artemis and the SLS:

Reviewing the work completed by NASA and its Artemis partners during the first quarter of 2025 on preparations and planning for the Artemis II, III, and IV missions.

Imagery is courtesy of NASA, except where noted.

Links to social media posts:
https://x.com/jeff_foust/status/18847...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...oust/status/1884700023063024047&v=cCSnJ1xdEYs
https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1892621...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...musk/status/1892621691060093254&v=cCSnJ1xdEYs
https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1892627...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...musk/status/1892627928921329862&v=cCSnJ1xdEYs
https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1895598...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...musk/status/1895598258225106984&v=cCSnJ1xdEYs

Links to stories referenced:
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/key-...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...ver-us-moon-program-2025-02-19/&v=cCSnJ1xdEYs

00:00 Intro
00:20 Quarter in review: three major themes
03:54 Artemis II status and outlook
08:00 Artemis III status and (cloudy) outlook
23:52 Artemis IV status and outlook
35:02 Artemis V and beyond
37:15 Thanks for watching!

 

[NMaude]

Jared Isaacman has been confirmed as the new NASA administrator but there are programmes in jeopardy with everything in doubt, from Philip Sloss:

Soon-to-be NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman's nomination hearing is the main focus of this week's Artemis roundup. Mr. Isaacman held his proverbial cards very close so there wasn't much clarity. I'll go into detail about where that uncertainty leaves NASA's Artemis programs, with the subsequent reports that the White House wants to cut the Science directorate in half.

I'll go over other news and notes during the week, with more Gateway HALO sightings and a lot of work activity in the Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39 area in preparation for Artemis II, III, and IV.

Imagery is courtesy of NASA, except where noted.

Space Coast Live (http://nsf.live/spacecoast) courtesy of NSF/NASASpaceflight, used with permission.

Links to social media posts:
https://x.com/SenTedCruz/status/19093...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...Cruz/status/1909384195774070929&v=Sbnv79Oyk4Y
https://x.com/SenKatieBritt/status/19...
https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...ktUaFDp2xVebXyueND3EQLbLRuf74Bl&v=Sbnv79Oyk4Y
/ pfbid0a6nbky5fsotpyicuraebmaes4vljhysquckt... https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...ktUaFDp2xVebXyueND3EQLbLRuf74Bl&v=Sbnv79Oyk4Y
https://x.com/esaspaceflight/status/1...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...ight/status/1910292626407850394&v=Sbnv79Oyk4Y

Links to stories referenced:
https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/04...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...erates-science-funding-at-nasa/&v=Sbnv79Oyk4Y
https://spacepolicyonline.com/news/is...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...ence-discovery-on-shaky-ground/&v=Sbnv79Oyk4Y

00:00 Intro
01:55 Mr. Isaacman had the NASA Admin job before the nomination hearing started
02:43 Did the hearing answer any long-standing questions?
07:25 Takeaways from the hearing: Mr. Isaacman very guarded in his testimony
12:54 Ranking Senators in the hearing still support current Artemis programs
16:16 Bottom lines from the hearing: White House cuts to Artemis not off the table
18:00 No showstoppers to confirmation, but Mr. Isaacman did not tell Senators what they wanted to hear
20:17 Mr. Isaacman's legacy begins again as a Trump man
20:35 Artemis II SLS Launch Vehicle Stage Adapter stacked in the VAB
21:41 Pegasus barge picks up SLS transportation equipment at KSC for future deliveries
24:49 New Gateway HALO pictures released
25:43 Mobile Launcher-2 umbilical tower module 6 stacked
27:18 Thanks for watching!

 

[southwestforests]

20:35 Artemis II SLS Launch Vehicle Stage Adapter stacked in the VAB
21:41 Pegasus barge picks up SLS transportation equipment at KSC for future deliveries
24:49 New Gateway HALO pictures released
25:43 Mobile Launcher-2 umbilical tower module 6 stacked
27:18 Thanks for watching!

Ya know, I am at the same time pleased that progress is being made & actually a bit distressed that this is all the far we as both the US and humanity in general have gotten at this date in making sure at least some humans live and grow and work on more than just one little ball of rock.

 

[southwestforests]

Moon Monday #221: The US is failing to explore lunar water as the principal goal of Artemis
And, countries allied with the US are facing delays in their own missions, allowing China to lead in this aspect of lunar exploration too.
Jatan Mehta
14 Apr 2025 — 11 min read

Moon Monday #221: The US is failing to explore lunar water as the principal goal of Artemis

And, countries allied with the US are facing delays in their own missions, allowing China to lead in this aspect of lunar exploration too.

jatan.space

Last decade’s joint Indo-US discovery of water ice on the Moon’s poles by India’s Chandrayaan 1 orbiter not only catalyzed the world’s heightened interest in our Moon but also provided a possible path to have future lunar astronauts stay for long periods by utilizing these water deposits. However, planning and executing a sustained human presence on our Moon hinges greatly on what we learn about the ground truth of these deposits in terms of their nature, abundance, exact locations, and ease of utilization. Especially as they are sequestered inside extremely harsh permanently shadowed regions on the poles.

The US has spent nearly $100 billion so far via Artemis and other related programs but has failed to meaningfully progress our understanding of lunar water, much less how to use it. A review of the current states and unfortunate outcomes of US Moon missions across orbit and the surface reveals the direness of the situation. Delays in similar missions by international allies of the US add to the problem.