Former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine has publicly expressed doubts about the current design proposals for the commercial lunar landers being developed under the Artemis program.
Artemis program overview
Artemis aims to return astronauts to the Moon and lay the groundwork for future crewed missions to Mars. A key component is partnering with private companies to provide lunar landers.
Bridenstine's concerns
Bridenstine warns that the present concepts are overly complex and may pose significant risks. He stresses that technical choices made today could hinder later missions if they are insufficiently tested or become prohibitively expensive.
Industry response
Spokespersons from several involved firms state they are working closely with NASA to meet safety standards and control costs. They view the criticism as a catalyst to accelerate development processes.
Future steps
NASA plans to continue reviewing the designs over the next few months and make adjustments as needed to stay on track for the first crewed lunar landing scheduled for Artemis III.