Significant Progress On Artemis, Lunar Science, Satellite Missions

NASA has had a busy year with a new Acting Administrator and a permanent Administrator close to being confirmed in the Senate, making preparations for the Artemis II test flight coming up early next year, the first crewed mission around the Moon in over 50 years, and pushing momentum toward a Lunar landing mission.

NASA and its partners landed two robotic science missions on the Moon. The agency also secured more signatories for the Artemis Accords, which now total 59 nations that agree to safe, transparent, and responsible lunar exploration.

Sean P. Duffy was named by President Donald Trump as Secretary of the Department of Transportation early this year and then Acting Administrator of NASA. Jared Isaacman was selected to be permanent Administrator and has been going through confirmation hearings in the Senate. His nomination passed out of committee with bipartisan support and he awaits full Senate action.

NASA’s Artemis program calls for increasingly challenging missions for its astronauts to explore more of the Moon for scientific research, economic benefits, and to continue building the foundation for the first crewed mission to Mars. The Artemis II mission is the first test flight with crew and is slated for launch in early 2026. The goal of the mission is to confirm systems and hardware for future lunar flights including Artemis III’s astronaut lunar landing.

NASA introduced 10 new astronaut candidates in September. They were selected from more than 8,000 applicants. The class will go through two years of training for future missions to low Earth orbit, the Moon, and Mars.

The space agency continued its work in the quest for life, science and technology to advance our understanding of the universe and in defense of planet Earth from asteroids, advances in wildfire monitoring from satellites, research in heliophysics, and much more.

FMI:  www.nasa.gov/