NASA's Artemis lunar exploration program has faced significant delays, pushing the first crewed flight to the moon to mid-2027.
Delays are due to technical complications discovered during the uncrewed Artemis I mission, particularly in the heat shield of the Orion crew capsule.
NASA will change the Artemis II mission trajectory to mitigate risks and ensure astronaut safety.
Geopolitical tensions and strategic positioning play a role in the mission, with NASA aiming to secure lunar territory before China's independent moon landing plans by 2030.