NASA

"We have gotten to a root cause," said Lakiesha Hawkins, assistant deputy associate administrator for NASA's Moon to Mars program office, in response to a question from Ars on Monday at the Wernher von Braun Space Exploration Symposium.

"We are having conversations within the agency to make sure that we have a good understanding of not only what's going on with the heat shield, but also next steps and how that actually applies to the course that we take for Artemis II," she said. "And we'll be in a position to be able to share where we are with that hopefully before the end of the year.”

Speaking at a meeting of lunar scientists Monday, Glaze said NASA wants to complete additional testing before a final determination on what to do with Artemis II. The final decision, she said, will be made by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.

"We expect that additional testing to conclude by the end of November, and then we anticipate discussions with the administrator, who will make the final decision on how to proceed," Glaze said. "I know we all want more information faster, sooner, better. We're moving it as quickly as it possibly can move, and there will be decisions forthcoming."

An attendee of the lunar science meeting in Houston asked Glaze if she could share the root cause of the heat shield erosion. “I’m not going to share right now," she replied. "When it comes out, it’ll all come out together.”