On July 8 local time, the American space news website “Space.com” published an interview with Jim Brindsen, former director of NASA. Brindsen questioned NASA’s "Artemis" plan to return to the moon. He stated that the plan designed by NASA was too complex, and the development progress of the lunar module had seriously fallen behind schedule.
Brionsdithin served as the director of NASA during the first term of U.S. President Trump. After Trump launched the “Artemis” program in 2017, Brionsdithin played a key role in developing the lunar landing roadmap. However, now he begins to doubt NASA’s lunar landing plan.
Bridenstain told Space.com that the United States' Apollo program, which landed on the moon in the last century, used as simple a approach as possible. “It is precisely because of this that they were able to successfully land on the moon eight years after John Kennedy announced the United States’ plans to land on the moon.” In contrast, the Apollo program’s two landers used a much more complex approach.
Former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstain - Video Screenshot
According to the plan announced by NASA's current director, Isaac Man, the Artemis program will use the 'Starship' designed by SpaceX and the 'Blue Moon' lander designed by Blue Origin. Both vehicles require multiple in-orbit refuelings in order to transport astronauts to the moon.
A recent report by the NASA Inspector General Office estimates that the Starship would need at least 15 additional launches to replenish its fuel, in order to complete a full lunar mission.
Brionston pointed out that both landers are currently behind schedule, and have not yet successfully entered orbit. “That’s the challenge we face; we still don’t have any usable landers. Without a lander, it’s impossible to land on the moon. It’s that simple. I’m worried that over time, we might be causing ourselves trouble.”
Bridesdon said, “The brilliance of the Apollo program lies in its indirectness.” He called on the U.S. government to accelerate the progress of the Artemis program, “to build the lander at all costs and as quickly as possible.”
The United States completed the unmanned lunar orbit test mission of "Artemis 1" in November 2022, and completed the manned lunar orbit test mission of "Artemis 2" in April this year.
However, the timeline for subsequent tasks has been adjusted and postponed several times. NASA has announced that the "Artemis 3" mission, originally scheduled for 2027, will instead involve system and operational capability tests in low Earth orbit. The lunar mission will be renamed "Artemis 4" or "Artemis 5," with implementation planned for 2028.
