Artemis Moon Program

[BlueAbyssal]

As I wrote, I count years.
Eleven years for Project Apollo to put twelve men on the moon, at a cost of $253 billion in 2023 dollars.
A stab in the dark: Moonbase will have burned through trillions of dollars before it becomes operational.

So you are assuming we are limited to NASA’s productivity and cost scale. Why? SpaceX, Blue Origin, Argo, Starpath, Interlune, and more are already building hardware far cheaper than NASA has historically done, and at faster rates, all intended for use on the Moon.

@BlueAbyssal What order of magnitude in spending do you expect will be needed? Ten trillion? A hundred trillion dollars?
Two bucks and a nickel?

I expect it to start within five years and cost less than a billion dollars to get to initial production (<200 tons/year of oxygen). Especially as more cheap lift comes online, competition drives lower costs, and real-world experience drives improvements in performance and price. Expanding it will take considerably more money and more time, but how much more of both is hard to guess without specifying an end goal. Billions, certainly, but not hundreds of billions, and definitely not trillions.

If you believe it will cost trillions, then the government won’t do it either. Space science isn’t worth that much and wouldn’t be unless it involved colonizing another star system.

 

[Byeman]

Res

I want to keep hydrogen rocketry alive...and frankly have no trust in Bezos capability.

Industry is doing that. Since Shuttle last launch, number of launches using LH2:
NASA - 2
ULA - 115
Blue - 40

Expertise is in industry and not NASA

SLS/EUS is best for outer planet probes.

Not needed, Vulcan, FH and NG can do it cheaper. Even SLS with Centaur V is cheaper.
Anyways, no such payloads since planetary program budget cuts.

The tech bros are rich enough without NASA Centers being gouged to make them richer.

Using commercial rockets extends NASA's budget. NASA Centers and programs that waste resources need to be gouged.

Keeping in-house engineering experience in case Starship or NG fails is a must.

In-house engineering experience already exists and doesn't required own or build the rocket.
https://www.nasa.gov/kennedy/launch-services-program/
48 missions since last Shuttle launches.
False logic. In-house engineering experience for SLS doesn't do anything for Starship or NG failures. SLS doesn't backup either of them.
a. Starship and NG are launching landers
b. Starship and NG are backups to each other.

Also, most SLS engineering is done by Boeing, ULA and NG

A lunar presence will inspire youth, and is a way to maintain aerospace excellence without wars. That is the real value of the space programs.

That would be false logic.
A. Aerospace is much broader than just space programs
b. There is no commercial equivalents to military aircraft and weapons. A space program doesn't help with these or airliners
c. The military uses commercial launch services. It has no equivalent to SLS in terms of management.
d. Both the military and commercial customers fly more payloads per year than NASA

NASA Civil Service Employment - 18,000
SpaceX - 22,000
Blue - 12,000
NG Space Systems - 31,000
LM Space Systems - 23,000
USSF - 15,000

NASA budget - $25 billion
USSF budget - $71 billion
SpaceX capital expenditures - >$21 billion
That would be false logic.
A. Aerospace is much broader than just space programs
b. There is no commercial equivalents to military aircraft and weapons. A space program doesn't help with these or airliners
c. The military uses commercial launch services. It has no equivalent to SLS in terms of management.
d. Both the military and commercial customers fly more payloads per year than NASA

NASA Civil Service Employment - 18,000
SpaceX - 22,000
Blue - 12,000
NG Space Systems - 31,000
LM Space Systems - 23,000
USSF - 15,000

NASA budget - $25 billion
USSF budget - $71 billion
SpaceX capital expenditures - >$21 billion
That would be false logic.
A. Aerospace is much broader than just space programs
b. There is no commercial equivalents to military aircraft and weapons. A space program doesn't help with these or airliners
c. The military uses commercial launch services. It has no equivalent to SLS in terms of management.
d. Both the military and commercial customers fly more payloads per year than NASA

NASA Civil Service Employment - 18,000
SpaceX - 22,000
Blue - 12,000
NG Space Systems - 31,000
LM Space Systems - 23,000
USSF - 15,000

NASA budget - $25 billion
USSF budget - $71 billion
SpaceX capital expenditures - >$21 billion
That would be false logic.
A. Aerospace is much broader than just space programs
b. There is no commercial equivalents to military aircraft and weapons. A space program doesn't help with these or airliners
c. The military uses commercial launch services. It has no equivalent to SLS in terms of management.
d. Both the military and commercial customers fly more payloads per year than NASA

NASA Civil Service Employment - 18,000
SpaceX - 22,000
Blue - 12,000
NG Space Systems - 31,000
LM Space Systems - 23,000
USSF - 15,000

NASA budget - $25 billion
USSF budget - $71 billion
That would be false logic.
A. Aerospace is much broader than just space programs
b. There is no commercial equivalents to military aircraft and weapons. A space program doesn't help with these or airliners
c. The military uses commercial launch services. It has no equivalent to SLS in terms of management.
d. Both the military and commercial customers fly more payloads per year than NASA

NASA Civil Service Employment - 18,000
SpaceX - 22,000
Blue - 12,000
NG Space Systems - 31,000
LM Space Systems - 23,000
USSF - 15,000

NASA budget - $25 billion
USSF budget - $71 billion
SpaceX capital expenditures - $21 billion
SpaceX operating expenses - $21 billion

Small new companies
Rocketlab
Firefly
Stoke Space
Relativity Space
not the mention all the small sat manufacturers

NASA doesn't move the needle in the big picture anymore. There was a slight bump for Artemis II but it has faded and Artemis III is years away.

NASA can't waste its budget on duplicating what is available in industry. NASA has to transition to a consumer of existing commercial capabilities and put its development focus on hardware not available or viable commercially.

 

[Byeman]

Cheap access to space:
- space elevator
- EM-rail launcher
- space drive building on a theoretical physics revolution - a man can dream

All dreams. First two are not viable for earth launch.

 

[Byeman]

I argue that building a Moon base, if it comes about, will be mostly - completely? - government funded.

Just like Antarctic base.
Government funded doesn't mean government operated or government built,

 

[Arjen]

All dreams

Exactly. Like that privately funded Moonbase.

This is an industrial endeavor first

A dream.

 

[Byeman]

Exactly. Like that privately funded Moonbase.

Who said anything about that?

 

[publiusr]

Just the entire NewSpace movement that bit hard on this lure...where have you been?

And that Moonbase...just exactly where is it?
https://behindtheblack.com/behind-t...eaders-find-the-location-of-nasas-lunar-base/

-that from a website that all but consists of NewSpace aficionados...

From what I understand, the initial map was an A.I. fiction...even more "notional" than than the Bono saucer.

It is my opinion that the entire Moonbase is a fabrication to distract from Jared/Trump's dismantling of NASA institutions....a spoonful of sugar to make the cyanide go down.

Byeman likes to make predictions--here's mine:

SLS will be killed, ISS will be splashed, with few if any private space stations (tiny toys at best) and there will be no Lunar Starship landings/Moonbase in my lifetime.

Is this the space future anyone here wanted?
Jim worked with good people now put out on the street. Folks from his office.

Past behavior predicts future behavior.

I do not trust Donald Proxmire.

Here in central Alabama Gene Hallman and others cheered a concept of a domed stadium. I know...ick...but bear with me.

The concept was a one penny tax...pushed by " MAPS."

A group of business types formed "RAPS" opposed to the tax...saying private concerns could build it without need of the tax

They got their way--and no domed stadium was built.

Now--I hate sports, but I did vote for MAPS because the McWane Science Center would have also been given a boost. Of course--that was likely a sugar coating too--and I would have preferred my penny go entirely to the science center...but...

Haven't we all seen the bait-and-switch before?
Someone wants to kill a project...making empty promises that never are followed through...in that all that was desired was that X be killed.

If folks are too stingy to support X, you know they won't support Y. Rinse...repeat.

 

[Byeman]

Just the entire NewSpace movement that bit hard on this lure...where have you been?

No, Moonrise was part of Constellation and part of Artemis from the begininng

It is my opinion that the entire Moonbase is a fabrication

I thought "A lunar presence will inspire youth"

Jared/Trump's dismantling of NASA institutions.

It all occurred before Issacman took the job

Byeman likes to make predictions--here's mine:

you were called out here https://behindtheblack.com/behind-t...eaders-find-the-location-of-nasas-lunar-base/
for overreacting. I made one prediction, it doesn't mean I like to.

 

[Byeman]

Yes, Agenda was hypergolic, but the eyes out push remains...thus Agena-like

That is an inane analogy. Agena flew 350 times and was only used twice for eyeballs out firings. And it is childish to try to disparage Starship with the idiotic Megagena name. Blue is going to do the same thing.

The Orion crew would be in even more control of their own destiny with the EUS Jared is killing

That would be wrong. It would be no different than the other upperstages.

 

[Byeman]

My point about Orion being most safely atop SLS is that--if there is any problem with SLS or the D-IV upper stage....it isn't committed to a circumlunar flight.

Same applies to any other launch vehicle that would launch Orion

If the goal is just "kill SLS" and Orion has to rely on Megagena Starship just to get out of LEO....and THEN things go wrong....you don't have the same safety margin available.

Wrong, they are no different in safety margins to get out of LEO, whether D-IV upper stage or Starship

Megagena Starship pushes Blue Moon moonward, and no crew is out at hazard at all, at least until time to trust the actual landing.

No, the conop will be the same for either lander. Orion docks in LEO and the lander/upperstage does the TLI.

heavy Alpaca, which would no longer have to shave every ounce off.

Still was a crappy lander.

 

[NMaude]

I do not trust Donald Proxmire.

Russel Vought?

 

[martinbayer]

That is key to the point. My reading of your underlying values is that you see space science as the province of the state, and because you don’t value industry so much and don’t see avenues for profit aside from what exists, therefore a lunar base must be state-funded. Is that accurate? Think about how long Amazon did not turn a profit, yet continually expanded. Think about SpaceX’s long-term goals, and how with the IPO, Starlink, Google, Anthropic, Falcon 9, Starshield, and other big deals (they’ve signed billions in contracts just this year), they have a huge war chest that can let them carry losses for a long time. You believe a lot. Have you calculated anything? Skepticism is easy.

But don’t you see? You believe that’s at the heart of it because of the value I described above. You really should read that paper I linked to; it doesn’t seem you’ve even opened it. You may also like to read Mach33’s independent research both on orbital data centers and SpaceX’s profitability.

Also: what big technical leap are you envisioning is necessary?

Although I'm a sixties (in more sense than one) softie leftist international social democrat at heart (and why do I feel like I just put an online crosshair on myself?), I full heartedly root for Musk and Bezos to make outer space their bitch. There is quite literally more space and associated lunar/planetary real estate than any single corporate, government or private effort could ever hope to tackle in a lifespan, so conquer away!

 

[publiusr]

I thought "A lunar presence will inspire youth"

A legitimate one would....not a paper distraction

To Martin,
Elon has certainly done more to open up space than Bezos...I just hold the opinion that there are things that nations should do as nations.... institutions...not just individuals.

 

[Byeman]

A.I just hold the opinion that there are things that nations should do as nations.... institutions...not just individuals.

Exploration and exploitation are for institutions and individuals of the nations and not the governments. Same for the production of methods of transportation. Land, sea and air transportation methods are not managed by the governments,

 

[Byeman]

Elon has certainly done more to open up space than Bezos...

Does it really matter. Timing is the only real difference.

 

[publiusr]

Land, sea and air transportation methods are not managed by the governments,

The NTSB is no doubt surprised that they don't exist....and we have all seen what cost cutting did for air traffic control haven't we?

 

[Byeman]

The NTSB is no doubt surprised that they don't exist....and we have all seen what cost cutting did for air traffic control haven't we?

A. They don't manage
b. They only investigate accidents
c. DOT doesn't manage either, it regulates.
d. "Managed" includes design, build and operate

 

[NMaude]

Philip Sloss uploaded a new ststus report concerning Artemis III and other related topics:

NASA revealed the Artemis III flight crew of four astronauts to the public on Tuesday, June 9th, at the same time providing some detail to the existing high-level mission outline. In this video I'll go through the announcement ceremony and event, why the HLS prototypes were descoped, and whether the updates provided any clarity to the schedule challenges for Artemis III and IV.​

Imagery is courtesy of NASA, except where noted.

V3 Starship "off the line" render from Tony Bela social media post:
https://x.com/InfographicTony/status/...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...ony/status/2060749953144963129/&v=KsWvgt2iYu8

Links to other social media posts:
https://x.com/NASAAdmin/status/206470...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...dmin/status/2064702792023879811&v=KsWvgt2iYu8
https://x.com/nasaspaceflight/status/...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...ight/status/2060164928472854821&v=KsWvgt2iYu8

Links to stories referenced:
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...-about-more-moon-money-00953873&v=KsWvgt2iYu8
https://spacenews.com/nasa-names-crew...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...-mission-to-test-lunar-landers/&v=KsWvgt2iYu8
https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/06...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...-about-the-artemis-iii-mission/&v=KsWvgt2iYu8
https://spaceflightnow.com/2026/06/04...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...meet-artemis-mission-deadlines/&v=KsWvgt2iYu8

Join the channel for additional members-only content: / @philipsloss Or, consider buying me a coffee to support my work and the channel.https://buymeacoffee.com/philipslosshttps://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...://buymeacoffee.com/philipsloss&v=KsWvgt2iYu8

00:00 Intro
02:11 NASA announces the Artemis III astronauts on June 9th
05:04 The space agency and commercial partners provided some details about Artemis III during the event
11:02 Blue Origin introduces a Mark 2 demonstrator for Artemis III
13:14 SpaceX can only provide a standard V3 Starship a year from now
14:57 Artemis lunar landing schedule uncertainty unchanged by HLS descoping from Artemis III
17:45 POLITICO reports NASA is lobbying Congress for more Moon money
20:36 Artemis III Watch: schedule hints and the rest of the SLS Boosters arrive
23:39 Thanks for watching!

 

[martinbayer]

Exploration and exploitation are for institutions and individuals of the nations and not the governments. Same for the production of methods of transportation. Land, sea and air transportation methods are not managed by the governments,

Ahem, in the United States of America, DOT, EPA, FAA, FHA, FRA, FTA, MA, NHTSA, NOAA, OSHA, and TSA, etc. would probably like a word or some thousand with you for starters? But a very warm welcome to the 21st Century in the freest country on this here planet to you, Byebyeman!

 

[Byeman]

Ahem, in the United States of America, DOT, EPA, FAA, FHA, FRA, FTA, MA, NHTSA, NOAA, OSHA, and TSA, etc. would probably like a word or some thousand with you for starters? But a very warm welcome to the 21st Century in the freest country on this here planet to you, Byebyeman!

They regulate the industries, they do not manage* them.
* Managing an industry involves coordinating personnel, materials, and technology

 

[NMaude]

Philip Sloss has a new update concerning Artemis III and related SLS issues:

The quarter and the first half of 2026 are ending, after Artemis II marked the beginning in early April. NASA is looking ahead to a Moon Base and closing the books on some of Artemis past, with Gateway and Exploration Upper Stage now terminated.​

A U.S. lunar landing, now moved from Artemis III and 2024 to Artemis IV and 2028, remains the goal of the decade; however, it remains unclear how close the U.S. is to that goal, as it has throughout the decade. In this video, I'll recap what we're hearing about the new Artemis III, all the questions that remain for that low Earth orbit test flight and Artemis IV, and a few other news and notes.​

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman's 12 June appearance on NSF/NASASpaceflight's "The Flame Trench:" • Artemis III Setting The Stage (with specia... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLKr9bPIMj8

Imagery is courtesy of NASA, except where noted.

Links to social media posts:
https://x.com/NASAAdmin/status/206470...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...dmin/status/2064702792023879811&v=CgaqafjcJ-E
https://x.com/nasaspaceflight/status/...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...ight/status/2060164928472854821&v=CgaqafjcJ-E
https://bsky.app/profile/lorengrush.b...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev....bsky.social/post/3mnuksibkqe2d&v=CgaqafjcJ-E
https://x.com/davill/status/206725353...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...vill/status/2067253530092605898&v=CgaqafjcJ-E
https://x.com/NASAJohnson/status/2067...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...nson/status/2067658348619514053&v=CgaqafjcJ-E

Links to stories referenced:
https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/02...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...because-he-has-a-new-moon-plan/&v=CgaqafjcJ-E
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articl...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...-mission-role-in-blow-to-boeing&v=CgaqafjcJ-E
https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/06...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...-about-the-artemis-iii-mission/&v=CgaqafjcJ-E
https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...://buymeacoffee.com/philipsloss&v=CgaqafjcJ-E
00:00 Intro
01:28 A little Artemis II post-flight data
04:06 Artemis III watch: crew training begins
05:15 First RS-25 engine for Artemis III arrives at KSC
08:06 EGS launch team training continues
08:46 Reviewing what we know about Artemis III mission plans
13:37 Reviewing Artemis III questions
18:18 Artemis IV questions
22:29 NASA administrator Jared Isaacman provides a few Artemis notes on recent NSF livestream
24:20 If SLS is retired this decade, how long will the gap be until there's a replacement?
26:25 Blue Origin doubling down on pad rebuild and New Glenn return to flight in six months
27:38 Thanks for watching!

 

[Flyaway]

Artemis III is coming together, piece by piece.

The second of four RS-25 rocket engines was recently offloaded at @NASAKennedy. These rocket engines will power the Space Launch System rocket during the launch of Artemis III, propelling the Orion spacecraft into Earth orbit.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2070599623815606402

View: https://twitter.com/NASAArtemis/status/2070599623815606402

 

[NMaude]

Philip Sloss has uploaded a new status report on the SLS and Artemis:

NASA is continuing to prepare its Artemis III-related programs for the mission, with hardware continuing to arrive at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, but the Inspector General office published a post-mortem memo on other projects. They're not done with their audit, but OIG still went to the trouble of putting out new cost and schedule projections about the terminated Gateway and SLS upgrades. Some of the Artemis programs are cost-capped, but even though all of them have suffered long delays, OIG didn't publish schedule projections in other, recent, completed reports.​

In this video, I'll go over recent Artemis III pictures released and look at what OIG said in this report but didn't talk about elsewhere.

Imagery is courtesy of NASA, except where noted.

Links to stories referenced:
http://www.collectspace.com/news/news...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...ur-first-look-opening-date.html&v=M8MTb9PCnhs
https://spacenews.com/canceled-nasa-e...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...illions-of-dollars-in-overruns/&v=M8MTb9PCnhs
https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...://buymeacoffee.com/philipsloss&v=M8MTb9PCnhs
00:00 Intro
01:39 Artemis III Watch: Recent status?
02:45 Meet the SLS Core Stage weather cover
08:12 With the RS-25 engines arriving, a look at the engine installer history
13:20 Recent pictures of Artemis III hardware in the VAB
15:30 OIG memo on canceled Artemis programs
22:01 OIG report on launch infrastructure
22:53 A sneak preview of the Shuttle Endeavour launch display in Los Angeles
25:15 Thanks for watching!

 

[Michel Van]

We get a very big Moon rover
The NASA administrator Jared Isaacman just announced: Promise
(Polar Rover for Observation, Mapping, and In-Situ Exploration)
What is the Engineering model for Mars Rovers Curiosity and Perseverance, stored at JPL.
Promise will be made flight ready for Lunar surface and launch in coming years.

(Seems that Isaacman look into leftovers of NASA programs to what they can use)
Source:
https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-awards-more-moon-base-science-previews-new-opportunities/

 

[Michel Van]

This is Optimism Engineering model for Mars Rovers and soon rename Promise

 

[NMaude]

Philip Sloss uploaded the other day a new video concerning Artemis III, Centaur V and other related issues:

In this video, I'll go over the start of Artemis III SLS Booster stacking, newly released imagery of Artemis IV elements, and the first orbital launch of China's Long March 10 rocket. Most of the work for the lunar landers to get ready for Artemis IV won't happen until after Artemis III, and at this point, all three of the secretly-developed landers points to their first visits to the Moon in 2028.​

There's also more questions about sticking Centaur V on SLS in the future, after an initial assessment suggests performance restrictions.

Imagery is courtesy of NASA, except where noted.

Links to social media posts:
https://x.com/jeff_foust/status/20740...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...oust/status/2074038385489121454&v=p5v7exSSUr8
https://x.com/jeff_foust/status/20740...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...oust/status/2074039235234152621&v=p5v7exSSUr8
https://x.com/NASASpaceflight/status/...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...ight/status/2075288382855344535&v=p5v7exSSUr8

Links to stories referenced:
https://spacenews.com/blue-origin-con...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...overy-from-new-glenn-explosion/&v=p5v7exSSUr8
https://www.china-in-space.com/p/chin...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...-recovers-rocket-booster-debuts&v=p5v7exSSUr8
https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...://buymeacoffee.com/philipsloss&v=p5v7exSSUr8
00:00 Intro
02:15 Artemis III Watch: Stacking begins
04:09 Artemis III Orion crew module is mated to its heatshield
06:16 Artemis II crew visits KSC
06:57 Artemis IV Watch: SLS Core Stage production milestones from the spring
11:24 Blue Origin shows a picture of "Mark 2 Alpha"
14:06 Next Starship flight test next week?
15:30 How much will Centaur V restrict SLS performance?
21:45 Other news and notes: first orbital launch of China's Long March 10 Moon rocket
24:03 Thanks for watching!

 

[martinbayer]

I see lots of breathlessly hyped lunar robot rovers of all sizes, but as someone who *ACTUALLY* watched the first human landing on the Moon with less than a 2 Second delay on live TV, it's *boots* and not *wheels* on the ground that will count going forward.

 

[NMaude]

Philip Sloss has a new video out concerning NASA's plans for Artemis III, IV and V:

In this week's Artemis roundup, Exploration Ground Systems continues SLS Booster stacking for Artemis III, Boeing advances Artemis IV SLS Core Stage production, and the first launch attempt for the next Starship flight test is aborted.

Imagery is courtesy of NASA, except where noted.

Links to social media posts:
https://x.com/elonmusk/status/2077906...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...musk/status/2077906757641183445&v=geI85exOTgg
https://x.com/davill/status/207844205...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...vill/status/2078442058717569385&v=geI85exOTgg

Links to stories referenced:
https://spacenews.com/nasa-names-crew...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...-mission-to-test-lunar-landers/&v=geI85exOTgg
https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/06...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...-about-the-artemis-iii-mission/&v=geI85exOTgg

https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...://buymeacoffee.com/philipsloss&v=geI85exOTgg
00:00 Intro
01:45 Artemis III Watch: EGS continues SLS booster stacking in the VAB
05:45 Checking in on Artemis III Orion crew module assembly
09:03 The third RS-25 engine for Artemis III is at KSC for SLS Core Stage installation
11:04 NASA will use Starlink terminals for livestreaming parts of the Artemis III mission
11:59 Artemis IV Watch
17:08 The first attempt to launch Starship Flight Test 13 is aborted at ignition
18:43 NASA HLS publishes overview of Artemis III lunar lander prototypes
21:15 Thanks for watching!

 

[TomcatViP]

Earth's magnetosphere slows the near side​

The research team attributes this difference to the "speed-governing" effect of Earth's magnetosphere. As the moon orbits Earth, it periodically passes through the magnetosheath—a buffer zone around the magnetosphere—where the ambient solar wind is slowed from its typical velocity of 400 km/s to about 200 km/s.

This slower solar wind primarily reaches the lunar near side, resulting in shallower implantation depths within the near-side regolith. In contrast, the far side, which permanently faces away from Earth, remains directly exposed to undisturbed solar wind, allowing ions to penetrate deeper into the regolith.

https://phys.org/news/2026-07-samples-reveal-earth-solar-moon.html#google_vignette

 

[NMaude]

NASA has released a time-lapse video of the stacking of Artemis III's aft SRB segments on ML-1:

 

[NMaude]

NASA has already got on to producing the ICPS substitute spacer for Artemis III:

Making Space for Progress!

After @NASA announced that Artemis III would be a low Earth orbit mission, teams at Marshall began building a spacer that would take the place of the ICPS.

Now, the final friction stir weld is complete, and inspections are underway. Stay tuned!

https://twitter.com/x/status/2080654232982630597

View: https://x.com/NASA_Marshall/status/2080654232982630597

 

[NMaude]

Philip Sloss has a new status report out concerning Artemis III and related topics:

SpaceX has talked about Starship orbital flight for five years, and after Friday's flight test, they may be on the eve of that first one. It was a big step for Starship, but didn't change the outlook for the lunar lander that NASA wants to rent to take astronauts to the Moon on Artemis IV. Like previous flight tests, we would need some guidance from NASA or SpaceX about how close they are to Artemis objectives...although it's less clear how high a business priority that is now.​

The GAO did break some of the silence about the impact and consequences of NASA's remake of the Artemis plan at the beginning of the year. It turns out the Exploration Upper Stage contract was officially terminated over two months ago in May. GAO is also breaking news about the fate of other SLS upgrades like the solid rocket booster upgrade in development or Mobile Launcher-2. Those projects aren't dead, at least not yet, and apparently NASA is still figuring out what to do with them, if anything.​

In this video, I'll also go over the latest pictures we have of preparations for Artemis III and production of Artemis IV SLS hardware.

Imagery is courtesy of NASA, except where noted.
Links to social media posts: / 1451581465645494279 https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...musk/status/1451581465645494279&v=fSuv79mx-2g
https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...://buymeacoffee.com/philipsloss&v=fSuv79mx-2g
00:00 Intro
02:15 Artemis III Watch: RS-25 engines ready for SLS Core Stage installation
06:01 EGS continuing to prepare SLS booster segments for stacking
07:26 Assembly images of the "spacer" at Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama
08:13 Artemis IV Watch: the Core Stage-4 liquid hydrogen (LH2) tank returns from proof test
12:17 GAO breaks NASA silence about the fate of some Artemis programs
19:18 Starship flight test 13 on July 24
22:00 Thanks for watching!

 

[NMaude]

Philip Sloss has uploaded a new status report concerning Artemis III, IV and V along with related issues:

After a slow, mid-summer week of news, a mid-summer recap of what to watch for in the next two years, as NASA attempts to launch Artemis III, IV, and V by the end of 2028. The space agency is publishing pictures of their government operations, hardware, and facilities, but those aren't revealing how close or how far away Artemis as a whole is from landing the next U.S. astronauts on the Moon and returning them safely to Earth.​

00:00 Intro
02:04 Artemis III Watch: preparations to continue SLS Booster stacking
05:56 Artemis IV Watch: the latest SLS Core Stage production moves
11:36 Watch items for Artemis III, IV, and V
17:40 Other news and notes: a picture of the Artemis II heatshield was quietly published
18:19 Thanks for watching!

 

[NMaude]

Philip Sloss has just uploaded a short video with the current status of the Artemis III CSM:

An initial, quick look at a set of pictures NASA published this afternoon (August 4th) of the Artemis III Orion spacecraft after prime contractor Lockheed Martin mated the Crew Module to the Service Module at the Kennedy Space Center in late July.​

For some reason, the pictures were temporarily withdrawn while I was downloading them, but the ones that were available confirm the major milestone in assembly and test of the Artemis III Orion vehicle.​

Imagery is courtesy of NASA, except where noted.

 

[NMaude]

Here is a short video from Philip Sloss concerning refurbishing SLS ground test-articles such as the LVSA for use on a future SLS flight:

A recap of today's NASA blog update on Artemis III, and questions about the condition of the SLS structural test articles after NASA decided to refurbish and fly them on the mission.

If NASA is seriously considering refurbishing the OSA and LVSA ground test-articles to flightworthy status then they should seriously consider doing the same for the ICPS ground test-article.

 

[Gessler]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2087175251323166763

View: https://x.com/Arslanshaikh_/status/2087175251323166763?s=20


https://in.usembassy.gov/india-u-s-...ances-civil-and-commercial-space-cooperation/

"Both sides discussed expanding cooperation following the successful launch of the joint NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission last year, as well as pursuing future science and human space flight technology collaborations. They reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) guidelines on the long-term sustainability of outer space activities, as well as reviewed ongoing multilateral efforts for ensuring the Committee’s effectiveness.

NASA invited ISRO to join its Moon Base program, building on the two countries’ partnership under the Artemis Accords. The two sides also agreed to advance discussions for cooperation on open scientific data sharing under the Accords."

 

[NMaude]

Philip Sloss has put out a couple of new update videos for the SLS and Artemis:

In this video, I'll run through updates as NASA's Exploration Ground Systems integrated operations team continues stacking the Artemis III SLS boosters and Boeing continues final assembly of the Core Stage for that launch, but it starts with the latest look at the big picture.

Six months after a reset and reorganization of the Artemis-branded programs, it's hard to tell if Washington's 2028 lunar landing dreams are closer to reality or if the current target dates are motivational tools.

Congress wanted to beat China in a race to land the next people on the Moon, but the White House raised the stakes and shortened the deadline to the end of their current term. As it is, all the secret lunar lander developers are dealing with the same issues and delays as the U.S. government programs had.​

Imagery is courtesy of NASA, except where noted.

Links to social media posts:
https://x.com/ENNEPS/status/208754110...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...NEPS/status/2087541100525363329&v=TdihxOUl7hs

Links to stories referenced:
https://spacepolicyonline.com/news/ne...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...inks-to-orbit-maybe-catch-ship/&v=TdihxOUl7hs

00:00 Intro
02:39 Artemis III Watch
10:23 Boeing update on SLS Core Stage-3 final assembly
15:22 A two-month old, unannounced SLS Centaur V contract
20:42 Other news and notes: Starship flight test 14 into LEO?
21:49 Questions about China Long March 7A launch failure impact on lunar landing plans
22:51 Thanks for watching!

More updates for Artemis III:

Practically the only Artemis news of the week was big: NASA administrator Jared Isaacman announced the most specific Artemis III target date so far, June 2027. This video reviews the known status of Artemis III production and launch preparations from the NASA run programs, Exploration Ground Systems, Orion, and SLS with that more narrow target in mind nine months from now. That's preceded by an outline of what's known about the "short stack" tanking test planned for later this year; Mr. Isaacman also recently said the SLS Boosters and Core Stage could roll out to the pad in early November.

During an otherwise slow news week, there was time to take a closer look at some new footage of the Artemis II launch and the first look at one of the structural test articles that NASA is refurbishing to fly on Artemis III.​

China is also preparing to launch its next robotic lunar lander to the South Pole of the Moon, weather permitting.

Imagery is courtesy of NASA and the China Manned Space Agency, except where noted.

Links to social media posts:
https://x.com/spaceflightnow/status/2...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...tnow/status/2090887985864540208&v=PVnYqhBeZNE

Links to stories referenced:
https://www.china-in-space.com/p/chan...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...-7-to-start-searching-for-lunar&v=PVnYqhBeZNE
https://www.china-in-space.com/p/chan...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...hange-7-rolls-out-ahead-of-moon&v=PVnYqhBeZNE

NASA August 2026 SLS Resource Reel can be download from this "landing page":
https://images.nasa.gov/details/SLS_A...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...August%202026%20Resource%20Reel&v=PVnYqhBeZNE

00:00 Intro
02:01 An overview of the Artemis III "short stack" tanking test planned this year
11:17 Artemis III Watch: launch now targeted for June, nine months away
14:17 SLS provides new footage of the Artemis II launch and newly reassigned structural test article
18:44 China's Chang'e 7 robotic lunar lander ready for a trip to the South Pole of the Moon (weather permitting)
20:23 Thanks for watching!

 

[NMaude]

Philip Sloss has uploaded a new update concerning Artemis IV and related news:

SLS and Orion have flown to the Moon on their first two flights together, but those uncrewed and crewed demonstration flights were too far apart for NASA. They are now pushing the Exploration Ground Systems, Orion, and SLS programs to work to a June 2027 launch readiness date for Artemis III, but that mission won't leave low Earth orbit, and it's lunar launch cadence that is needed for Washington's 2028 lunar landing deadline.

In this video, I'll look at the variables that NASA controls and the ones they don't, with only about two years left until the end of 2028. The goal is to fly Artemis IV in early 2028, but that will require a higher production and delivery cadence for Orion and SLS hardware.

Even if the Artemis IV Orion and SLS hardware is ready by the fall of 2027 to start stacking that vehicle, at least one of the commercial lunar lander providers has to establish a cadence of launches to the Moon before the mission can launch, and NASA doesn't control lunar lander development progress. Washington will rent lunar landers that SpaceX and Blue Origin are developing, with most of the uncertainty about those schedules unresolved.

Imagery is courtesy of NASA, except where noted.​

Links to social media posts:
https://x.com/SecDuffyNASA/status/198...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUM4Zm9rU0Q1WFdZekdwWmNvejFjQnR5VlRXcXxBTl9pYzRmTnlqRFZobnBnY0FleVFnTEdQT3lYdlhiSFZHZVhSSDhLR1Q5Q0xRb0dPMzU4Q2ZiMTRSSVFqaW5IM2dHMTZtVDA5TEo0dGNjWkJZeWFzUkUwOUVaSXRyZXZ3bHcw&q=https://x.com/SecDuffyNASA/status/1980257227760955637&v=oNhgFsNFe3Y
https://x.com/audrey_decker9/status/1...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUM4Zm9rUURIZ1Y2Ni1hOUV4UC0wVUc4M1pabnxBTl9pYzRjUTFpNlVEXzBmMHRUOU1yQkV5dldLa3RGSFFKSTBpX0p6SUEtUEdvQXp2bjJIZkZ2eGsySHZ3Sm1oOW16OWMxX0FySGFyYzEyMmRWZjVlRVdYbjk4Q2FPVmxneEd1&q=https://x.com/audrey_decker9/status/1989352112728510935&v=oNhgFsNFe3Y
https://x.com/nasaspaceflight/status/...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUM4Zm9rUjd4THFsN1FRYjBMTldSdnF3Y2JwZ3xBTl9pYzRkTURHX2hJZFZRVnN3QjZWM1RQR0pzRFFCZE9PTENNZG9IQVpvRFBCc200ZjZJTDBpMUxMYk40OXJQazd3QkxTbmdPYXFBVWpiS2Vwekt1OThGM2t4VWFDOFFGSk14&q=https://x.com/nasaspaceflight/status/2060164928472854821&v=oNhgFsNFe3Y
https://x.com/NASAAdmin/status/206470...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUM4Zm9rVE9Ta2ZGSGtoQ2gwNVdwd0tkeHlBaHxBTl9pYzRkbXVSY0E5MXBrYk54dmlaa3Q0WmpDOUpEdk5wbFRFekJUT0pBNTNBNXNGZUtZcGppRmpQaUZNNDY0TTBMQnhXSVFtRmd1Q0d6alBFejR3SmI2ZFVCN2hKc0xRRXlV&q=https://x.com/NASAAdmin/status/2064702792023879811&v=oNhgFsNFe3Y
https://x.com/spaceflightnow/status/2...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUM4Zm9rU19iQ3pUd3Q5VnR4TnNrQmtySHNwRnxBTl9pYzRjZVNXQ1p6NnB0ZEdjbEVGMDhyU2N1RXZGYzk3VU4zNG44OWIzZkY2VllmZmYwQlNLeGlwOEJjQlZpWndZUGVPLXFTTFZDajlDdDUweXljSk80SGJXZFNqQ1pBbndl&q=https://x.com/spaceflightnow/status/2090887985864540208&v=oNhgFsNFe3Y

Links to stories referenced:
https://spacenews.com/nasa-halts-work...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUM4Zm9rUXN0R05JdkNMUmtpNG5tVjVYLVN5RnxBTl9pYzRjeDRLaFlJcUhqa0NxUnhqQTctc1F0Qnp0WVBvZGN5WVB1NHI3ZV9IV0xQcy0zdlFpTkdZQkNtYVJ1ZGc1SU44RDhGSVk2ZDBiX01fNnVnczhhZFJzMnk4TXNQcUcy&q=https://spacenews.com/nasa-halts-work-on-gateway-to-develop-a-lunar-base/&v=oNhgFsNFe3Y
https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUM4Zm9rVHJKdzhoY1dQWlREZXNaa1NGb1RUa3xBTl9pYzRjVFJiTnk0VnpYOVQ4RmRWRHJuX3Z6dzRySjFfV0xKcThGOS1QUGNPSFFvRnNxZlZaTVd4X1lVaEtDUGgwY3dOX09FeTFqUEpMem8xcWZtTXB4TlczV3F4b3JjWV94&q=https://buymeacoffee.com/philipsloss&v=oNhgFsNFe3Y
00:00 Intro
02:58 NASA pushing EGS, Orion, and SLS to improve the launch part of lunar launch cadence on Artemis III
11:47 SpaceX and Blue Origin need to start a cadence of launches to the Moon for Artemis
21:35 NASA will need to resolve contract uncertainties to improve Orion and SLS production/delivery cadence
29:21 Thanks for watching!

 

[Flyaway]

Artemis III: Our Next Step Back to the Moon

Sep 3, 2026
In April 2026, we flew humans to the Moon for the first time in over 50 years during the Artemis II mission. But this mission was only the beginning.

Soon after, the crew of Artemis III was announced: NASA astronauts Randy Bresnik, Andre Douglas, Frank Rubio, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Luca Parmitano. Their mission will involve testing lunar lander systems in low Earth orbit.

The astronauts of Artemis II passed the baton to the Artemis III crew, as they are our next step in sending humanity back to the Moon—this time, to stay.

Under Artemis, NASA will send astronauts on increasingly difficult missions to explore more of the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to build on our foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars.

View: https://youtu.be/jHKf1eHp3eQ

 

[NMaude]

NASA has uploaded a video showing the current status of Artemis III's SRB stacking, both Centre-Centre SRM sections have been stacked so no doubt it won't be long before the Centre-forward sections are stacked:

NASA Artemis III: Booster Stacking for Moon Mission

​

Artemis III, NASA, SLS Rocket, Space Launch System, Booster Stacking, Moon Mission, Lunar Landing, Space Exploration, Kennedy Space Center, Orion Spacecraft, Rocket Assembly, Deep Space.

​

The Artemis III mission marks a historic milestone in human space exploration as NASA prepares to return astronauts to the lunar surface. A critical part of this journey is the assembly of the Space Launch System (SLS), the most powerful rocket ever built. In this video, we take an inside look at the complex process of booster stacking, where massive solid rocket motor segments are meticulously joined to form the backbone of the SLS.

​

This phase of assembly is vital for the success of the Artemis program. Each booster segment provides the incredible thrust needed to escape Earth's gravity and propel the Orion spacecraft toward the Moon. The stacking process requires extreme precision, as engineers and technicians at the Kennedy Space Center work around the clock to ensure every component is perfectly aligned.

​

As we look toward the Artemis III landing, these boosters will play a key role in launching the first woman and the next man to the Moon's South Pole. This region of the Moon is of high interest due to its potential water ice and unique geological features. By establishing a sustainable presence on the Moon, NASA is paving the way for future human missions to Mars.

​

The SLS rocket, combined with the Orion spacecraft and the Gateway lunar outpost, represents the next generation of space travel technology. Stay tuned for more updates on the Artemis missions, SLS testing, and the future of deep space exploration. Don't forget to like and subscribe for the latest news from the final frontier!


Time Stamps

0:00 - Introduction to Artemis III
0:45 - Overview of the Space Launch System (SLS)
1:59 - The Importance of Booster Stacking
https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/artemisiii
#ArtemisIII #NASA #SLS #MoonMission #SpaceExploration #RocketScience #Artemis #Astronomy #KennedySpaceCenter

This is from six days ago showing the second RS-25D engine being prepared to be mated to the Artemis III first-stage thrust-structure:

NASA ID: KSC-20260825-MH-CSH01-0001-Artemis_III_Booster_Engine_3_Prepping_For_Installation-M21897.

MP4Technicians transfer the #2 RS-25 SLS (Space Launch System) rocket engine to the work stand for integration with the Artemis III core stage rocket on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The #3 engine was previously integrated. During Artemis III, the four RS‑25 engines will launch the Orion spacecraft and its crew of four into low Earth orbit, generating more than two million pounds of thrust at liftoff.

Date Created:2026-08-25​

Center:KSC


Keywords: Artemis III , Artemis 3 , boosters , SLS , space launch system , VAB , Vehicle Assembly Building , KSC


Albums: Artemis_III


Location:VAB High Bay 2

Photographer:NASA/Cory S Huston

All four RS-25Ds have been mated to the Artemis III first-stage thrust structure:

https://twitter.com/x/status/2095550014130938043

View: https://x.com/ThePrimalDino/status/2095550014130938043

The left forward centre-segment has been stacked: