Space News Pod

NASA held an in-person press conference with the astronauts set to participate in the Artemis 2 mission, which aims to launch in November 2024. The conference provided a plethora of updates on the mission's objectives, timelines, and, interestingly, the integration of SpaceX's Starship as a key component in future lunar missions. NASA's Administrator, Bill Nelson, underscored the importance of the Artemis program as a stepping stone for even more ambitious ventures, such as missions to Mars. A highlight of this strategy is NASA's partnership with SpaceX, specifically contracting the space company to provide the lunar lander that will act as the first astronaut base on the Moon. Artemis 2 itself will be a critical test flight that carries four astronauts. However, it's essential to note that they will not actually land on the Moon. The Orion spacecraft is primarily a transit vehicle designed to dock either with SpaceX's Starship lunar lander or the Gateway lunar space station. NASA'