NASA's Artemis Program Takes a Major Hit as Rocket Suffers Critical Malfunction A critical malfunction has occurred during a test of NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, a key component of the Artemis program aimed at returning humans to the lunar surface by 2025. The incident has sent shockwaves through the space community, raising concerns about the ambitious timeline and the feasibility of the mission. Details of the malfunction are scarce, but sources close to the project indicate that the issue may be related to the rocket's core stage. As NASA works to identify the cause and implement repairs, the future of the Artemis program hangs in the balance.