GAO report warns Artemis 3 Landing may be delayed to 2027

NASA ambitious Artemis lunar exploration initiative is likely to face a setback, with the first crewed landing expected no earlier than 2027, according to a recent report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

Released on November 30, the GAO report highlights the sluggish progress on key components of the Artemis program, particularly the Human Landing System (HLS) lunar lander developed by SpaceX and the new lunar spacesuits by Axiom Space. The current target of achieving a crewed landing in late 2025 on the Artemis 3 mission appears unattainable, primarily due to challenges in HLS development.

The report underscores SpaceX hurdles, stating that the company "is facing multiple issues that limit this progress and jeopardize its ability to support an Artemis III mission in 2025." These challenges include an ambitious schedule, delays in the current development, and significant technical work.

The GAO argues that considering the typical timeline for major projects at NASA, it was unrealistic to expect the Starship lunar lander to be ready by late 2025. "If the HLS development takes as many months as NASA major projects do, on average, the Artemis III mission would likely occur in early 2027," the report notes.

SpaceX HLS development is reportedly progressing more slowly than anticipated, with the preliminary design review milestone taking more than half the overall schedule. The report cites SpaceX delays of unspecified key events from 2023 to 2024, compressing the remaining timeline.

The GAO report also points to an "incomplete" first integrated test flight of Starship/Super Heavy in April, raising concerns about key technical milestones, including the performance of the Raptor engine and in-space cryogenic propellant transfer.

While NASA received an updated schedule for Starship HLS development from SpaceX in August, the details remain undisclosed. NASA officials emphasized ongoing collaboration with SpaceX, stating that the lander integration with the broader program is critical.

In addition to SpaceX challenges, the GAO report highlights potential delays in Axiom development of lunar spacesuits. Axiom is still in the early stages of suit development, with a preliminary design review scheduled for November. As of the report date, neither NASA nor Axiom had reported the completion of that review.

Axiom plan to redesign portions of the suit based on NASA earlier design to meet agency requirements for 60 minutes of emergency life support capabilities could potentially impede overall spacesuit development. The GAO warns of potential delays, including supply chain challenges with critical components having lead times of 12 to 18 months.