NewsNASA's Artemis mission launch delayed by Florida storm

NASA's Artemis mission launch delayed by Florida storm

NASA said on Saturday it had scrapped plans for Tuesday's launch of the Artemis mission, the United States' return to the moon after five decades, citing concern over forecasts of a tropical storm headed for Florida.

Tropical Storm Ian is expected to reach Florida, home to the Kennedy Space Center, next week, according to the US National Hurricane Center.

Weather and technical issues such as a fuel leak aside, Artemis I – an unmanned test flight – marks a major turning point for NASA's human spaceflight program after decades focused on low-Earth orbit with space shuttles and the International Space Station.

Artemis will head to the Moon, as a preliminary to a future flight to Mars.

Named for the goddess who was the twin sister of Apollo in ancient Greek mythology, Artemis aims to return astronauts to the lunar surface in 2025, though many experts believe that deadline is likely to be pushed back.

New images of Saturn's rings in stunning detail

New images of Saturn's rings in stunning detail

NASA discovers more than 50 areas that emit exorbitant levels of greenhouse gases

NASA's 'EMIT' spectrometer locates has targeted Central Asia, the Middle East and the US among others.

Where Stars Form: Webb Telescope Captures New View of 'Pillars of Creation'

The infrared eye of NASA's space observatory discovers what is happening inside the cloudy cosmic formation.

12-year all-sky 'timelapse'

NASA just unveiled an epic journey across our sky using nearly 20 maps produced by the NEOWISE spacecraft.

NASA prepares to break the sound barrier

The space agency will use Lockheed Martin's X-59 and... if it succeeds, it will make history again.

More