NASA plans astronaut mission to the Moon

NASA is gearing up to send astronauts back to the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years, with updated plans for its Artemis program. The Artemis II mission, currently scheduled for April, will carry four astronauts on a lunar flyby, while Artemis III aims to land astronauts on the Moon in 2028.

To reduce risks, NASA will add an extra step: in 2027, a crew will travel to low Earth orbit to rendezvous with the lunar lander before heading to the Moon. Officials say this additional flight will not delay the program, and Artemis IV and V are still scheduled to achieve lunar landings in 2028.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman explained that the extra mission was necessary to avoid long gaps between launches and to test key technologies in a controlled environment before committing them to a Moon landing.

Artemis II had originally targeted March for launch, but a helium leak in the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket forced a delay. The rocket has been moved to the Vehicle Assembly Building at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center for repairs, with the earliest possible launch now in April.

Isaacman said testing the Orion spacecraft alongside the lunar lander in low Earth orbit will help reduce risks. “I would rather have astronauts test the integrated systems in Earth orbit than on the Moon,” he said, adding that it will also allow crews to prepare suits and equipment before lunar operations.

The lunar lander that will carry astronauts to the Moon has not yet been finalized. SpaceX holds a contract to provide one lander using its Starship rocket, but delays have prompted NASA to request a simplified, accelerated plan. Blue Origin, owned by Jeff Bezos, has also been asked to prepare a fast-track lunar lander design. Artemis III’s low Earth orbit mission could involve one or both landing systems.

The U.S. faces growing pressure to return to the Moon as China aims for a lunar landing by 2030. Both countries are targeting the Moon’s south pole, competing for the best locations for future lunar bases.