NASA announces delays for Artemis missions

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — NASA leaders say they need more time to allow teams to work through challenges associated with first-time developments, operations, and integration before the launch of Artemis II, a crewed mission around the moon.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

It will also mean a delay for Artemis III, the agency’s next lunar landing with astronauts.

Artemis II was scheduled to launch from Florida’s Space Coast in November of this year.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

This afternoon, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced Artemis II will launch in September of 2025, and Artemis III will launch in September of 2026.

Teams are taking a closer look at the performance of the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield.

Read: NASA delays Artemis mission timeline

“It’s supposed to char, but we were not expecting some pieces of that char to be liberated from the vehicle,” Deputy Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya explained.

Teams are also troubleshooting a battery concern on the spacecraft and addressing issues with a component responsible for air ventilation and temperature control.

The agency says crew safety is driving the new Artemis timeline.

CLICK HERE to read the original story by WFTV.

Read: Jacksonville City Council reviews $1.5 million sports tourism proposal for the River City

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.