A New Era of Space Exploration

NASA to Launch First Artemis Mission

Humanity to Return to the Moon

WASHINGTON, D.C. - NASA is preparing to launch the first Artemis mission, a groundbreaking step in the agency's plans to return humans to the Moon and eventually send them to Mars.

The Artemis program is named after the Greek goddess of the hunt and sister of Apollo, the namesake of the Apollo program that landed the first humans on the Moon in 1969. The Artemis program aims to build a sustainable human presence on the Moon by 2028 and to establish a gateway that will act as a staging ground for missions to Mars.

The first Artemis mission, known as Artemis I, is scheduled to launch in November 2022. The uncrewed flight will test the Space Launch System (SLS), the world's most powerful rocket, and the Orion crew capsule. Artemis II, scheduled for launch in 2024, will carry a crew of four astronauts around the Moon. Artemis III, targeted for 2025, will finally send humans back to the lunar surface.

The Artemis program is a major undertaking that will require the collaboration of multiple nations and the development of new technologies. However, it also represents a thrilling new chapter in space exploration and the potential for significant scientific and technological breakthroughs.