As the countdown for the planned return of astronauts, to the Moon through. NASA's Artemis program runs down to December of twenty twenty-five, looming uncertainties with the development of spacex's colossal, 400-foot tall, Starship rocket pose, potential
delays. This possible setback stems from ongoing difficulties in the development of the Starship, a vehicle intended to transport Part two astronauts to and from the lunar surface, NASA's exploration systems development Mission. Directorate leader, Jim free voices were he's hinting at a probable shift of the schedule into 2026 about a year later. And he said, the current timeline for the first astronaut moon landing under Artemis
program. Termed Artemis 3 is set for December of 2025 free said during the national academies Aeronautics and Space Engineering board meeting Andy further, convey, Apprehension over the challenges faced by SpaceX, which might push the deadline even further. Now. Before undertaking, a lunar Voyage, the Starship must first prove its capability for orbital travel spacex's first attempt to test.
This involved an integrated Flight of the Starship, atop B 33 engines super-heavy booster this initiative launched from SpaceX is Starbase facility in south Texas in April transmitted essential performance data back to Earth and back to SpaceX headquarters. The company declared test flight, a success in this is, despite the rocket spinning out of control, due to multiple engine failures and eventually it was destroyed by a self-activated destruction
system. Now SpaceX ground teams found themselves, tasked with rectifying damage to the Texas launch pad and reinforcing ground infrastructure. And if all goes well, the next SpaceX super-heavy Starship test launch might occur by the end of the summer as indicated by CEO of SpaceX. Elon Musk. However, the Starship moon lander is in the only Cog in the
Artemis missions mechanism. That could cause setbacks last year, NASA selected Axiom, space to develop a new more flexible space suit to protect lunar bound. Astronauts the new suit expected to debut in the Artemis 3 mission. Surpasses NASA's existing design in terms of suitability for the reduced gravity environment of the moon but its creation like the SpaceX Starship Landing.
Under May delay. This Mission as identified by NASA's Inspector General. Now free emphasizes the SpaceX is obligation to deliver according to their fixed price. Contract, with NASA, and NASA hit. Awarded a 2.9 billion dollar contract to SpaceX and 2021, to furnish a Starship vehicle as a human Landing system. For the Artemis 3 mission. This marked an attempt to revive crew Landings on the moon for the first time since 1972 in the
contract. Stipulates the any No, expenses are rising from delays or design, alterations lies, squarely on SpaceX, not with NASA. And while some delay in the Artemis, three missions launched in 2026 is anticipated. It still presents a formidable challenge. The NASA inspector General's, 2021 report revealed that the moon lander might not be ready for crew, flights until 2028 based on the average delay of major NASA space flight programs, the Artemis for
mission. Slated, for launch in, September of 2028 is also subject to possible. Delays do the construction of a new mobile launcher Tower at the, Kennedy Space Center and the presence of a larger Boeing built upper stage on a space launch system Moon rocket the sesa Tate's, a new launch platform. A situation that may strain the 2028 launch schedule in despite the prevailing uncertainties NASA remains hopeful about SpaceX meeting its obligations with an updated Starship
schedule submitted. SpaceX under review NASA's, expectations of the privates Aerospace manufacturer success and fulfilling, its commitments remain very high in the firm's performance. However, will be the ultimate determinant of the Artemis programs timeline. As they put it, they just have to get this thing.
Flying NASA's free, assertions underscored the looming challenges on spacex's path to facilitate human moon, landings after nearly five decades, his I pointed remarks have sparked widespread discussions within and outside NASA, primarily due to the potential influence, they may have on the scheduled Artemis missions. They said masses engagement with SpaceX hinges on a firm fixed price contract which stipulates that their primary obligation is to deliver his assertive or
marks. Reflect the mounting pressure on SpaceX to rise to the occasion and honor the commitment of ensuring astronauts land on the Moon, by the stipulated time line. The 2.9 billion dollar contract that SpaceX earned from NASA. In 2021 emphasizes the creation of a Starship vehicle for the Artemis. 3 mission marking Humanities return to the lunar surface, since the historic
Apollo missions. Now, the Starship vehicle part a SpaceX is proposal, for the hls, was the most cost-effective bid submitted in 2021 posting more cargo capacity than other competitors. And since securing this contract, NASA has entered a separate agreement with SpaceX for a second Starship ladder. Or the Artemis or Mission and
also awarded blue origin. A contract for a human rated Lander for Artemis, five aiming for the moon, a crew of four will be launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on board. The space launch system rocket and the Orion spacecraft the same Duo underwent successful test flights around the moon, the previous year during the unmanned Artemis. One mission. Meanwhile, a second test flight, the Artemis to Mission is penciled in for late 2024.
The crew of four is set to be sent around the moon's Far Side before. Are making their return journey to Earth at the heart of the Artemis 3 mission is the Orion capsule entrusted with transporting. The astronauts to the Moon as vicinity were spacex's human-rated. Starship, Lander will be ready to meet with them, towering it, 15 stories tall. The Starship Lander is designed to write a top.
Spacex's new super heavy booster, the massive reusable rocket currently being developed by SpaceX and once the Starship Lander reaches a few hundred miles above the Earth, it will be Filled with methane and liquid oxygen methyl Ox propellants, using a series of Starship tanker Vehicles.
Now, this design of SpaceX is Starship is sent to have multiple iterations and compassing tankers propellant, Depots moon, lander satellite launch vehicles in deep space crew Transporters. Now once in lunar orbit, the Orion spacecraft is slated to dock with the Starship Lander from there, to astronauts will enter the Starship to embark on a descent towards a landing site near the Moon's. South Pole, the remaining two astronauts will stay aboard the
Orion capsule as it orbits. The moon following several days of lunar exploration. The Starship will return to space Rendezvous living with the Orion spacecraft to reunite the four-person crew before the Orion capsule finally returns the astronauts to Earth. However, the exact number of tanker, launches required to support a single Starship flight to the Moon remains Under Wraps by both SpaceX and NASA space.
His contract with NASA also includes an unmanned Starship demo landing on the moon preceding the Artemis 3 mission to fulfill the requirements set by NASA. Space X will have to execute a significant number of launches a pivotal milestone. In the pathway, to the Starships unmanned demonstration landing on the moon is testing, spacex's ship-to-ship cryogenic, propellant transfer system. This key technology is required for any mission that wishes to send Starship Beyond low earth. Thor.
But SpaceX and NASA have decided to postpone, the critical design review for the Starship moon lander. Until after SpaceX has demonstrated as a successful propellant, transfer this delay is reflective of the technical challenges in the complexity involved in propellant transfer in space. I'll be on this. There are other technical hurdles that SpaceX will need to overcome for instance. There are questions about the human rating process for Starship.
Historically NASA has used a stringent process to certify vehicles. As for human spaceflight to ensure safety, which includes various design reviews testing and also standards for redundancy, the process can take years and it is unclear how this will be handled with SpaceX a Starship. This is particularly challenging because Space X tends to employed an iterative development process with frequent design changes and
improvements being made. Also at stake is a companies need to prove that it can reliably recover and reuse. It's super heavy boosters while SpaceX has become proficient at Landing, its Falcon 9. First stages. The super-heavy booster is a much larger and more complicated vehicle. Its successful recovery will be vital for SpaceX has Ambitions to make space travel more affordable and sustainable for everybody.
And as of now only a few static fires of the super-heavy and the initial In Flight tests have happened. In the meantime, SpaceX has faced criticism over its approach to environmental and safety standards. They've been concerns about the impact of Starship testing and development activities. As SpaceX is Boca Chica site in Texas with some environmental groups and local residents, raising issues of noise pollution and disruption of
wildlife. Then there's the pressure from other competitors of the space industry. The awarding of the lunar lander contract. The SpaceX was met with protests from other companies. Knees blue origin which lodged a protest with the US government accountability office. The GAO and the GAO denied the protest but blue origin and its Partners in the national team.
Consortium have continued to press for a second hls contract and they were awarded this contract in the face of all these challenges SpaceX Remains undeterred. The company has a history of overcoming hurdles, whether they be technical bureaucratic or competitive, it's revolutionized a space industry by making. A reality and reducing launch costs significantly. Many believe that if anyone can deliver them, these ambitious timelines, and Technical requirements of the Artemis program.
It would be SpaceX and Elon Musk. Thanks for listening to the Elon Musk podcast today. I appreciate your support and I appreciate you spending the time here with me today. Now, if you could take a second and hit the Subscribe or follow button on whatever podcast platform you listening on right now. That would be amazing. It would help. The show tremendously. So thank you for that. Also, please take care of yourselves and each other and
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