NASA’s long-awaited effort to put humans back on the Moon for the first time in over five decades could face a significant schedule slip.
Following the recent Artemis II flight, the agency has been building momentum toward its next major lunar milestones. The mission carried four astronauts on a journey that pushed farther than any previous crewed flight.
The crew included pilot Victor Glover, engineer Christina Koch, astronaut Jeremy Hansen, and commander Reid Wiseman, marking multiple firsts for the program’s latest era of Moon exploration.
Artemis II served as a key proving mission for later flights, including Artemis IV, which is intended to return astronauts to the lunar surface in 2028.
But on Monday (April 20), NASA’s Office of Inspector General cautioned that the landing timeline may be more uncertain than planned, warning it could slip as far as 2031.
NASA began the Artemis program in 2017, outlining a sequence of increasingly demanding missions designed to re-establish a long-term human presence beyond Earth.
By 2026, two flights in the series have been completed successfully.
Artemis IV is currently slated to launch on the Space Launch System from Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
However, the report suggests the timetable could stretch beyond the current target, potentially delaying the moment humans once again set foot on the Moon.
Inspector General George A. Scott said one challenge is whether the next-generation spacesuits—critical equipment for surface operations—will be finished in time for the mission’s needs.
NASA’s existing suits used on the International Space Station were originally designed decades ago, and concerns have been raised about how well they can meet modern safety expectations and long-duration demands.
Complicating matters further, continued spacesuit development delays could affect testing plans ahead of the International Space Station’s expected retirement in 2030, which NASA had hoped would support demonstrations.
The agency had previously pointed to 2025/2026 timeframes for showcasing the advanced suits, but the inspector general indicated those targets were not realistic.
In a statement, they wrote: “NASA’s original schedules to demonstrate the lunar and microgravity spacesuits in 2025 and 2026, respectively, were overly optimistic and ultimately proved unachievable, as evidenced by delays of at least a year and a half for both spacesuits.”
NASA added: “Based on our analysis…the Artemis and ISS demonstrations may not occur until 2031.”
The report notes the new suits are expected to incorporate upgraded safety features and provide greater mobility than previous designs.