Trending Now - NASA Evaluates Moon Lander Risks Before Artemis II Launch

WHO:

NASA

NASA Office of Inspector General (OIG)

Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator

Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator

John Honeycutt, chair of Artemis II Mission Management Team

SpaceX

Blue Origin

WHAT:

NASA is preparing for the Artemis II mission, which will carry four astronauts around the Moon and back.

The Artemis II mission is scheduled for launch around April 1, 2026.

The mission was originally planned for early February 2026 but was delayed due to hydrogen propellant leaks and issues with the upper stage propellant pressurization system.

NASA plans to hold a flight readiness review on March 11 and 12, 2026.

NASA announced a major overhaul of the Artemis program on February 27, 2026, including an additional mission, Artemis III, planned for 2027.

The OIG report noted gaps in NASA's approach to lunar lander risk management.

The established loss-of-crew threshold for Artemis astronauts is expected to be 1-in-40 for lunar operations and 1-in-30 overall.

SpaceX's lander is a variant of the Starship, which is 171 feet tall.

Blue Origin's lander, Blue Moon, is 53 feet tall.

WHERE:

NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Florida

Launch Complex 39B, Kennedy Space Center

Vehicle Assembly Building, Kennedy Space Center

WHEN:

The OIG report was released on March 10, 2026.

NASA's crawler-transporter 2 arrived at the Vehicle Assembly Building on February 25, 2026.

The media briefing is scheduled for 3 p.m. EDT on March 12, 2026.

WHY:

NASA aims to establish a sustainable presence on the Moon and eventually send astronauts to Mars.

The Artemis II mission serves as a critical test for technologies and systems needed for future lunar and Mars missions.

HOW:

NASA is conducting a flight readiness review to ensure all systems are ready for the crewed mission.

SpaceX plans to refuel its lander in low-Earth orbit using 10-to-20 Starship tanker flights.

Blue Origin will also refuel its lander in Earth orbit before lunar descent.

(UPDATED March 11, 2026 13:24 UTC)

NASA is gearing up for the Artemis II mission, which is set to launch around April 1, 2026, carrying four astronauts on a journey around the Moon and back. The mission was initially scheduled for early February but faced delays due to hydrogen propellant leaks and issues with the upper stage propellant pressurization system, and a flight readiness review is taking place today and tomorrow at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This mission is crucial for testing technologies needed for future lunar and Mars missions, as NASA aims to establish a sustainable presence on the Moon.