The global focus has returned to the Moon, not as a symbolic destination but as the next place humans may live and work. NASA’s upcoming Artemis II mission marks a turning point in space exploration, shifting goals from short visits to long-term presence and future travel to Mars.
More than five decades after the Apollo era ended, astronauts are preparing to travel beyond low-Earth orbit again. Artemis II will carry four crew members around the Moon and back, testing deep-space systems that could support extended stays on the lunar surface and, eventually, human missions to the Red Planet.
From Flags to Foundations
During the 1960s and 1970s, lunar missions were driven by Cold War rivalry. Crews landed, conducted brief experiments, and returned home. Today’s strategy is different. Space agencies now see the Moon as a base for science, industry, and preparation for deeper space exploration.
This shift gained momentum after scientists confirmed the presence of water ice trapped in permanently shadowed craters near the lunar poles. Water can be used for drinking, converted into oxygen for breathing, and split into hydrogen and oxygen to produce rocket fuel. That discovery turned the Moon from a remote outpost into a practical stepping stone for sustained human activity.
