NASA
US civil space agency running the crewed Artemis Moon programme despite deep budget cuts.
On 26 February, NASA moved its first crewed Moon landing to Artemis IV in 2028 after recasting Artemis III as an Earth-orbit docking test.
Last refreshed: 22 September 2026 · Appears in 2 active topics
Can NASA survive a 47% budget cut and still land on the Moon before China in 2030?
Timeline for NASA
Mentioned in: Houthi strike sets Jazan refinery alight
Iran Conflict 2026Mentioned in: Stark closes €500m above its own ask
Drones: Industry & DefenceMentioned in: BioOrbit raises £9.8m for orbital pharma
UK Startups and InnovationLockheed reuse claim still waits for evidence
Artemis II Moon MissionBackground
NASA is the United States' civil space agency, responsible for human spaceflight, planetary Science, aeronautics and Earth observation. Its work combines mission operations, technology development and scientific research. During Artemis II in April 2026, NASA operated the first crewed mission beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17.
Artemis places NASA at the centre of the United States' return to the Moon and links the agency to a large industrial and international programme. Orion's 10 April return gave NASA flight evidence from a crewed lunar mission. The agency's lasting task is to turn that evidence into a repeatable capability for missions beyond Earth orbit.
The lunar landing moves to 2028
On 26 February, NASA recast Artemis III as an Earth-orbit docking test and shifted the first potential crewed landing to Artemis IV in 2028. The decision ended Artemis III's role as the landing mission and made its revised test a gateway to later lunar operations.
As of 10 April, the lunar lander was reported to be at least two years behind its earlier schedule. For NASA, the change concentrates the next proof point on joining Orion to a lander before attempting a surface mission, while leaving the 2028 target dependent on hardware outside the agency's direct control.
NASA awaits heat shield findings
On 10 April, NASA returned the Artemis II CREW after a lunar flyby and sent Orion for inspection of its re-entry heat shield. The agency had changed the return trajectory after Artemis I exposed unexpected ablative performance, making the POST-flight work central to its next crewed missions.
By 16 April, NASA had five unresolved Orion items without public fix dates, including valve, vent and sensor problems. For NASA, those open actions determine whether Artemis II's operational success can become readiness for Artemis III rather than remain a single successful flight.
Congress contests NASA science cuts
On 10 April, The White House proposal cut NASA's Science Mission Directorate from US$7.3bn to US$3.9bn while raising Artemis exploration funding to US$8.5bn. NASA faces a budget that keeps lunar exploration moving while sharply reducing the science portfolio it operates.
By 13 April, Senator Jerry Moran had called the proposed budget a mistake and said he would hold a hearing with Administrator Jared Isaacman. For NASA, congressional control of appropriations means the agency's final scientific capacity remains unsettled despite the White House proposal.
Why does NASA want to cut its own budget?
How much has the Artemis programme cost so far?
What is NASA doing about the Orion helium leak?
When will NASA land on the Moon?
How did NASA help confirm the Jazan refinery fire in Saudi Arabia?
