Could humans soon be walking on the Moon again? NASA is preparing for one of its most ambitious space missions ever, and the countdown is on!
More than 50 years after astronauts last set foot on the Moon, NASA’s Artemis programme aims to send humans back to explore the lunar surface.
But first, there’s a very important practice mission to complete!
Three rockets, four astronauts and one enormous challenge!
In 2027, NASA plans to launch four astronauts into orbit around Earth aboard its Orion spacecraft.
NASA’s powerful Space Launch System (SLS) rocket launched Artemis II in April 2026. The same rocket system will carry astronauts into space for Artemis III.
Two other spacecraft, developed by SpaceX and Blue Origin, will also blast into space. These special vehicles are designed to help astronauts land on the Moon.
The astronauts will practise docking – carefully connecting two spacecraft while they’re travelling thousands of kilometres per hour!
They’ll also test important equipment to make sure everything works properly before attempting a Moon landing.
NASA’s plan for Artemis III. The mission will send four astronauts to low Earth orbit next year to test critical systems needed for future lunar landings.
When will astronauts walk on the Moon?
NASA is aiming to land astronauts on the Moon in 2028, as part of its Artemis IV mission.
Unlike the Apollo astronauts, who explored areas near the Moon’s equator, future Artemis astronauts hope to explore the mysterious lunar south pole.
Scientists are particularly interested in this region because frozen water may be hiding inside its permanently shadowed craters!
Could these missions help us build a future Moon base? Perhaps one day, astronauts will even use the Moon as a stepping stone to Mars!
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