CNN 10 Why the latest moon mission won't land on the lunar surface
Mar 30, 2026
Kate Harpring, a 2026 Naismith High School Girls Player of the Year and high school basketball standout, shares her journey. She talks about balancing academics with intense recruitment pressure. Short, candid conversations cover her scoring record, state title, and how she handles competition and expectations.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Artemis II Is A Crewed Flyby Not A Landing
- Artemis II will not land; it will perform a crewed lunar flyby as a critical test before any touchdown attempts.
- NASA built Orion and the launch system but outsourced the lunar lander to SpaceX and Blue Origin, so Artemis 2 focuses on orbit validation.
Budget Reality Drives Commercial Partnerships
- Budget constraints shape mission design; NASA no longer funds an all-in-one Apollo-style system.
- The agency built Orion and a rocket but relied on commercial partners to develop the lunar lander to save costs and share development.
Technical Gaps Mean Orbit Tests Come First
- Technical capabilities differ from Apollo era; NASA hasn't developed lunar landing systems since 1972.
- Artemis aims for sustained presence at the lunar south pole, so initial missions prioritize orbital tests before surface operations.