The upcoming Artemis missions by NASA aim to send the first woman and the first person of color to the lunar south pole, marking humanity's return to the Moon's surface after over 50 years.
The first Artemis mission, an uncrewed flight, took place from November to December 2022. The Orion spacecraft, designed for astronauts, was launched by the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and orbited the Moon, venturing into interplanetary space.
Artemis 2, scheduled for no earlier than September 2025, will be the first crewed test flight of the SLS and Orion around the Moon, lasting about 10 days. The last crewed lunar flyby occurred during the Apollo program.
In Artemis 3, planned for no earlier than September 2026, astronauts will land near the lunar south pole for the first time. This mission will last approximately 30 days, with two astronauts descending to the surface for a week of exploration before rejoining their crew in lunar orbit.
The south pole region features unique characteristics, such as extremely long shadows and temperatures in deep craters that can drop to -170 degrees Celsius, making it a site of scientific interest.
Artemis 4 will focus on establishing the Gateway space station in lunar orbit, with its first elements taking about a year to reach their destination using efficient ion propulsion. The International Habitation module (I-Hab) from the European Space Agency will enhance living conditions for astronauts.
Before crew launch, SpaceX's Starship Human Landing System will transport new-generation spacesuits and supplies for the missions. The Artemis 4 mission will allow astronauts to conduct extensive lunar exploration and scientific research.