In 1903, the Wright brothers conducted the first successful powered flight, yet just 66 years later, on the 20th July 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become the first humans to set foot on another world. This monumental achievement marked one of mankind’s greatest achievements.
After the 6th and final successful Apollo landing in 1972, human exploration of the Moon came to an end. Since then, robotic spacecraft have continued the work of studying and mapping the lunar surface, analysing its composition, and identifying potential resources. These discoveries, combined with advances in technology, have laid the groundwork for a return – not merely for brief visits, but for long‑term exploration and more permanent utilisation.
As NASA prepares for the second Artemis mission, the world stands on the threshold of a new chapter in humanity’s long relationship with the Moon. Artemis II is scheduled for launch sometime before April 2026 and will mark the first time humans will travel beyond low Earth orbit since the Apollo era more than half a century ago. While it will not land on the lunar surface, the mission represents a critical step toward the goal of returning astronauts to the Moon and establishing a sustained human presence there.
Artemis II will carry a crew aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft, launched by the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hanson will embark on a multi‑day journey around the Moon and back to Earth. The primary objectives of this lunar flyby are to test the new generation of space exploration vehicles, and monitor human performance in deep space.
This mission is a crucial precursor to Artemis III, and subsequent flights, which aim to place astronauts, including the first woman and the first person of colour, on the lunar surface. Unlike the Apollo missions, which focused on short stays, the Artemis program envisions building more sustainable capabilities, including a space station in lunar orbit known as Gateway, and surface systems that will allow astronauts to live and work on the Moon for extended periods. The knowledge gained from Artemis II will help ensure these future missions are conducted safely and efficiently.
Despite looking like a desolate wasteland, the Moon offers us some incredible opportunities to grow our presence in the solar system. Recent discoveries of water ice hidden at the bottom of icy craters and imprisoned within the lunar regolith, could be harvested to create breathable oxygen, drinking water and even rocket fuel. In the future, missions into the far reaches of the solar system could be launched from the lunar surface – the low gravity of the Moon meaning that far less fuel is required to achieve escape velocity. There are even plans to build visual and radio telescopes on the far side of the Moon to take advantage of its lack of atmosphere and radio-quiet zones.
The names “Apollo” and “Artemis” are drawn from Greek mythology, underscoring a symbolic continuity between past and present. In myth, Apollo is the god of the Sun, light, and knowledge, while Artemis is the goddess of the Moon and Apollo’s twin sister. By naming the new program Artemis, NASA has intentionally connected today’s lunar ambitions with the achievements of Apollo, suggesting not a replacement, but a continuation: an exploration led by a new generation, building on the foundation laid by those who came before.
Artemis II represents more than a technical milestone. It is a reminder that exploration remains a defining human endeavour. As astronauts once again venture toward the Moon, we wish them Godspeed! The knowledge that they carry with them include decades of history, scientific curiosity, and the hope that this return will open the door to even greater journeys, including eventual missions to Mars and beyond.
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