# Heat Shield Puzzle Delays NASA Moon Mission as Artemis II Launches Today

- slug: heat-shield-puzzle-delays-nasa-moon-mission-as-artemis-ii-launches-today
- date: 2026-04-01
- category: Space & Aerospace

Victor Glover becomes the first person of color to leave low Earth orbit tonight. Three other records fall on the same mission: first woman on a lunar trajectory, first non-U.S. citizen beyond LEO, oldest person to leave Earths pull. The crew is not the afterthought.

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