NASA delayed the launch of the Moon probe

The US space agency (NASA) announced on August 14 that it was postponing the unmanned spacecraft to explore the moon until February 2009 instead of December 2008 as previously planned.

Artwork of a Moon probe - Photo: AP / NASA

Explaining the cause, NASA spokesman Gray Hautaluoma said NASA changed its plan because it agreed to change the schedule for rocket manufacturer "United Launch Alliance" to launch a satellite that could not be reused X-37 into space.

NASA's postponement of the plan has left President G. Bush's government unable to reach its goal in 2008 to begin exploring the Moon with an unmanned spacecraft, and cost NASA $ 7 million a month. .

According to the previous plan, the unmanned aerial spacecraft will be launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida in early December 2008. At a cost of $ 491 million, the probe is responsible for capturing the surface of the Moon and finding a safe location for astronauts to set foot on the planet in the future.