The Artemis Program
More than half a century after the last Apollo mission, humanity is preparing to return to the Moon. The Artemis Program represents a new era of space exploration, combining international cooperation, advanced technology and the ambition to establish a lasting human presence beyond Earth.
Unlike Apollo, which demonstrated that humans could reach the Moon, Artemis aims to remain there. Astronauts will explore the lunar south pole, where permanently shadowed craters may contain water ice. These resources could one day support future lunar bases and provide the fuel needed for missions deeper into the Solar System.
The program also marks an important step toward the exploration of Mars. The experience gained from living and working on the Moon will help scientists and engineers prepare for the challenges of sending humans to the Red Planet and, eventually, even farther into space.
Artemis is an international effort involving NASA together with partners from Europe, Canada, Japan and many other nations. It reflects a new vision of exploration in which countries work together to expand humanity’s presence in space.
The return to the Moon is not simply a journey back to a place we have already visited. It is the beginning of a new chapter in human exploration—one that may eventually carry us to Mars and beyond. As with every great voyage in history, the greatest discoveries may still lie ahead.