Science
54 Years, $100 Billion, 100 Heat Shield Failures — The Three Numbers Haunting Artemis II
On March 6, 2026, NASA's Artemis II will send humans to lunar orbit for the first time in 54 years. Four astronauts will fly 600,000 miles over 10 days in this historic mission, shadowed by three uncomfortable numbers: $100 billion in costs, 100 heat shield damage points, and a US-China space race reaching its decisive phase. We analyzes the significance and risks of Artemis II.