When are we going back to the moon?

NASA’s Artemis program aims to return astronauts to the moon in the next few years and build experience for longer missions.

NASA’s Artemis program aims to land astronauts on the moon again in the next few years, building toward a permanent lunar base. It is the stepping stone for eventual crewed missions to Mars.

Why going back is harder than it sounds

Apollo was a fast race built around short visits. Artemis aims for something harder: a return that can be repeated, with new spacecraft, suits, landers, and partners all working together safely. Every part must be tested because astronauts' lives depend on the whole chain, not one successful launch. The Moon is also a proving ground. Learning to live and work on another world, far from quick rescue, builds the experience needed before anyone attempts the much longer journey to Mars.

What to do, step by step

1. Follow the program on NASA's official Artemis pages, where mission goals and schedule changes are explained first.
2. Separate test flights from landing missions when you read headlines, because each flight has a different job.
3. Learn the main pieces: the rocket launches the crew capsule, which travels to the Moon and returns to Earth.
4. Watch for milestones such as launches, lunar orbits, dockings, and landings rather than expecting one single big day.
5. Check dramatic claims about dates or cancellations against official briefings before sharing them with others.