NASA accelerates moon base plans with Artemis missions

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 23 Oct, 23:32 · Archive

NASA is accelerating plans to return astronauts to the moon within two years, with Artemis IV scheduled for 2028.

NASA is accelerating its plans to establish a moon base and return astronauts to the lunar surface within two years. Administrator Jared Isaacman announced Friday that the space agency remains on track to launch Artemis III next summer. This two-week mission will involve four astronauts conducting a docking exercise with lunar landers developed by SpaceX and Blue Origin, though it will be confined to orbit around Earth rather than travelling to the moon.

Artemis IV, which will represent NASA's first crewed moon landing since the Apollo era, is scheduled for 2028. Isaacman noted that NASA is eliminating bureaucratic delays and working with private companies to meet these deadlines. He described the current lunar competition with China as a 'new space race' that will be 'much closer than it ever needed to be' due to slow progress in previous years.

NASA will keep its options open as long as possible before selecting between SpaceX and Blue Origin to provide the lunar lander for Artemis IV. The accelerated pace follows the successful Artemis II mission, which saw four astronauts orbit the moon six months earlier, marking humanity's first lunar journey in more than half a century.

How it is being reported

• NASA adopting Apollo’s urgency to build a moon base and land astronauts within two yearsNASA is moving fast on its plans to build a moon base and return astronauts to the lunar surface in as little as two years.Clickorlando · 23 Oct, 23:00
• NASA adopting Apollo’s urgency to build a moon base and land astronauts within two yearsNASA is moving fast on its plans to build a moon base and return astronauts to the lunar surface in as little as two years.News4Jax · 23 Oct, 23:00

In this story: NASA · Jared Isaacman · SpaceX · Blue Origin · Elon Musk · Jeff Bezos · China · Cape Canaveral

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