Replies

The first Artemis mission is delayed until at least 2030. Map says the Artemis IV mission will happen in 2008. This must be a very old map. SpaceX's StarShip is only on its 4th launch (coming soon). It will be a struggle for StarShip to get to the Moon before the 2030s. Artemis depends on StarShip. As for StarShip putting 3 people on the Moon, it is so heavy (being made out of stainless steel) that it will take 200 refuelings to get there. Boeing had the original contract and despite the lower powered engines, it could have made the trip in a single shot, due to its very light composite construction. Sadly, a manager at NASA decided Boeing' plan to succeed needed some inside information. He was caught and Boeing's potential rocket was cancelled.

The first Artemis mission is delayed until at least 2030.

Artemis 1, an uncrewed systems test, orbited the moon in Dec. 2022, all on auto-pilot.

The crewed Artemis 2 mission (maybe late next year) takes the no-balls approach of not landing - not even orbiting the moon - just make one large loop around then come straight back.

Apollo went and landed on the first trip.

I suppose the real reason for another test run of Artemis is that the orbiting docking station, the moon landing craft and other components of the more complex Artemis system are not fully developed, tested and in place.