The Artemis Program
In December 1972 Apollo 17 returned from its lunar mission and since then no humans have been back to the Moon. As the next step in lunar and space exploration, NASA announced the Artemis Program which will develop new technologies for space, collaborate with other nations and commercial partners, and return humans to the Moon by 2024.
As part of our celebration of Apollo 14’s 50th Anniversary, we’re posting information on Alan Shepard, the Apollo Program, and NASA.
Conducted in stages, the Artemis Program will use a new vehicle, the Orion spacecraft, and SLS Rocket to launch initially uncrewed missions starting in late 2021 or early 2022. In 2023, there will be a crewed launch followed by the crewed landing on the Moon in 2024 which will not only represent the return of humans to the Moon but also include the first woman to land on the Moon. In addition to the Orion spacecraft, the Artemis Program will also develop the Lunar Gateway to orbit the Moon and serve as a base of exploration. While initial launch of Gateway components will take place in 2023, it will not be completed for several years.
Our return to the Moon will feature longer stays, more exploration, and training for missions even further afield- NASA plans include a crew eventually making the 34 million mile journey to Mars.
