NASA marks 40 years since Challenger, prepares Artemis II amid safety and space governance concerns

Forty years after the Challenger disaster, NASA gets ready for its first crewed lunar mission since Apollo: Artemis II. Carrying four astronauts in the Orion capsule aboard the SLS rocket, the mission will evaluate spacecraft systems while confronting lingering hazards such as heat shield performance during reentry. Lessons from previous tragedies, which includes Columbia, guide safety decisions, highlighting crew protection and organizational accountability.