CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA introduced its newest astronauts Monday, 10 scientists, engineers and test pilots chosen from more than 8,000 applicants to help explore the moon and possibly Mars.

Nasa’s plan to return humans to the Moon could be set back by years due to delays with SpaceX’s Starship rocket, industry experts have warned. Safety advisers for the US space agency said that fundamental challenges remain with Starship’s Human Landing System (HLS), which is expected to support the Artemis 3 mission in 2027.

Going on a ten-day trip to the Moon and back again, the crew will be be flying further into space than anyone has been before.

NASA unveiled its 2025 astronaut class this week, and two familiar names popped out: Anna Menon and Yuri Kubo. Both spent more than a decade at SpaceX, where they played critical roles in the company’s rise to the behemoth it is today.

On the morning of Sept. 24, SpaceX will launch the latest solar science mission for NASA. Here's what to know before liftoff.

NASA safety advisers say they doubt the lunar lander version of SpaceX’s Starship will be ready to support the Artemis 3 mission as planned in 2027.

Under the deal, Blue Origin will carry VIPER – short for “Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover” – on its uncrewed Blue Moon Mk1 lander. Separately, NASA has awarded the company a human-rated lander contract under Artemis, but that program is distinct from this mission.

As the New York Times reports, experts are now warning that China could beat the United States in the race back to the Moon. After a series of successful robotic missions to the Earth’s natural satellite, the country has made major strides in its efforts to launch its “Lanyue” lunar lander to the Moon before 2030.