Chinese team flags life-threatening ‘glaring weakness’ in Nasa’s Artemis programme

A Chinese team has identified a significant vulnerability in NASA's Artemis program, specifically concerning the Orion spacecraft's reliance on a single main engine for critical descent and ascent maneuvers. This design, which mirrors that of the Apollo Lunar Module, lacks a backup engine for either stage. According to a peer-reviewed paper published in Chinese Space Science and Technology, this single-engine architecture presents "glaring weaknesses." The article contrasts this approach with China's, suggesting differing priorities in spacecraft design and potentially in the value placed on human life. The failure of this sole engine would leave no alternative for lunar landing or return to Earth.