2 weeks ago
8
NASA is preparing to send astronauts around the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years.
09:53, Tue, Jan 27, 2026 Updated: 09:56, Tue, Jan 27, 2026
NASA is preparing to send astronauts around the Moon (Image: NASA/Frank Michaux)
NASA is preparing to send astronauts around the Moon for the first time in more than half a century, despite experts' insisting that the aircraft is not safe. Set to launch on February 6, NASA has already rolled its rocket to the launchpad at Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
The mission will include a 10-day crewed flight that will send four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft, which will serve as the exploration vehicle. However, as the four astronauts climb NASA’s 16.5-foot-wide Orion spacecraft, they will do so with the understanding that it has a known flaw. The problem involves a special protective coating on the bottom of the spacecraft known as the heat shield.
The aircraft has a known flaw (Image: NASA/Joel Kowsky)
This key component shields astronauts from extreme temperatures as they return to Earth at the end of the Artemis II mission.
Dr. Danny Olivas, a former NASA astronaut who served on a space agency-appointed independent review team that investigated the incident, expressed his concerns.
“This is a deviant heat shield. There’s no doubt about it: This is not the heat shield that NASA would want to give its astronauts", said Dr Olivas.
He continued: “I think in my mind, there’s no flight that ever takes off where you don’t have a lingering doubt.
"But NASA really does understand what they have. They know the importance of the heat shield to crew safety, and I do believe that they’ve done the job.”
In a statement to CNN, NASA said the agency “considered all aspects” when making that decision, noting there is also “uncertainty that comes with the development and qualification of the processes of changing the manufacturing process of the Avcoat ablator blocks.”
What is the Artemis II mission?
Astronauts will be sent around the Moon for the first time in 50 years (Image: NASA)
The mission will test critical systems that will be needed for future deep-space missions. Unlike Artemis I, which was uncrewed, Artemis II will carry humans to validate life-support systems, navigation, communications, and the performance of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket.
The 10-day crewed mission will be the first to carry humans on a lunar flyby since Apollo 17 in 1972, paving the way for Artemis III, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon’s surface.
Artemis II will send NASA's Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
Engineers are on schedule at the launch pad and are preparing for a wet dress rehearsal as early as Saturday January 31. This prelaunch test involves fully fueling the rocket, running through the countdown, and safely draining the propellants without astronauts onboard.
Artemis II is not landing on the Moon (Image: NASA/Mark Sowa)
Why isn't it landing on the Moon?
Artemis II is not landing on the Moon because its main purpose is testing, not exploration. It is instead designed to carry astronauts around the Moon and back, making sure all the systems work safely with humans onboard.
Flying around the Moon helps engineers test navigation, communication delays, and the effects of deep-space travel on astronauts.
The mission also checks how well the spacecraft handles the intense conditions of leaving Earth’s orbit and safely re-entering Earth.
The latest science news from the natural world, health, tech and beyond Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
NASA plans to land on the moon with Artemis III, once Artemis II proves everything works as expected.
Nasa Administrator Jared Isaacman said the mission would fulfil “a promise to the American people that we will return to the moon”.
English (US) · 