NASA Juggles Piloted Moon Mission and Space Station Crew Replacement Flight
As NASA prepares to send its next crewed mission to the moon, the space agency is also working to replace a crew on the International Space Station. The Artemis 2 mission, which aims to send astronauts around the moon, is facing delays due to technical issues with the rocket's fueling system. Meanwhile, the Crew 11 crew on the ISS has been ordered to cut their mission short after one of the crew members developed a medical issue.Artemis 2 Mission Faces Delays
The Artemis 2 mission, which is scheduled to launch in February, is facing delays due to technical issues with the rocket's fueling system. According to NASA officials, multiple fueling tests had to be carried out before engineers finally resolved a series of propellant leaks during tests of the SLS rocket used for the Artemis 1 mission in 2022. If the upcoming fueling test goes well, the crew could be cleared to blast off a few days before February 11, the end of next month's launch period.
Crew 11 Mission Cut Short
The Crew 11 crew on the ISS has been ordered to cut their mission short after one of the crew members developed a medical issue. The crew members were launched to the outpost in November aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft and were scheduled to return to Earth around February 20. However, due to the medical issue, they returned to Earth Thursday, leaving just three people aboard the space station.
NASA Works to Move Up Crew 12 Launch
To minimize the gap between the two NASA missions, NASA and SpaceX are working to move up the launch of the Crew 12 space station crew. The new crew is scheduled to launch on February 15, but NASA officials are exploring options to bring them to the ISS sooner. This would allow for a smoother transition between crews and ensure that the ISS remains fully staffed.
NASA Officials Emphasize Importance of Parallel Paths
According to NASA officials, it is essential to continue preparing for both missions simultaneously. 'I don't see any reason why we wouldn't continue along those parallel paths,' said Isaacman. 'And if it comes down to a point in time where we have to de-conflict between two human spaceflight missions, that is a very good problem to have at NASA.'
As NASA navigates the complexities of sending its next crewed mission to the moon and replacing a crew on the ISS, it's clear that the agency is committed to ensuring the success of both endeavors. With careful planning and coordination, NASA officials are working to minimize delays and ensure that both missions reach their goals.
