Main points
- The Artemis 2 mission crew has successfully completed a lunar flyby and is ready for the next phases of the program, which include longer missions.
- The next Artemis 3 mission is scheduled for 2027, and a lunar landing could take place as part of the Artemis 4 mission in late 2028.
When will humans land on the Moon / NASA
The Artemis 2 mission crew has successfully completed a lunar orbiter and is already preparing for future missions. According to the astronauts, the technical level of the program allows us to talk about a quick landing of people on the Earth's satellite.
Space.com writes about this, citing Isaacman's position, which he voiced after the resounding success of Artemis 2.
Is the moon landing really close?
The crew of the Artemis 2 mission, which became the first manned mission under NASA's new lunar program, returned to Earth less than a week ago – and has already started working on the next stages of lunar exploration.
Astronaut Christina Koch even showed on her Instagram how the preparatory classes and training take place.
Is the team ready for the moon landing?
Mission Commander Reed Wiseman, along with Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, spent 10 days in space, flying around the far side of the Moon aboard the Orion spacecraft. During that time, they not only accomplished technical tasks, but also shared images and experiences that captured the attention of millions of people around the world.
During a press conference after his return, Wiseman emphasized that the mission was not just about testing technology, but also about bringing people together. He said the team wanted to create a moment that would make the world stop and look up.
Artemis 2 was a key milestone – it was the first manned launch of the Orion capsule. The main goal was to test the life support systems and the ship’s readiness for long flights in the lunar environment. And, as the astronauts themselves note, these tests were successful.
According to Wiseman, the ship performed even better than expected. Among the few problems was the temperature in the cabin at the beginning of the mission, but it was quickly adjusted from Earth. In general, the crew support system worked stably, which gives reason to talk about readiness for more complex flights.
The astronauts emphasize that there is still a lot of work ahead, especially in preparation for the 30- to 45-day missions planned for the next phases of the program.
However, now that Artemis 2 has been successfully completed, the team is feeling much more confident. Wiseman noted that after his personal experience flying to the Moon, the task no longer seems like such a big leap as it once did.
According to him, if there was already a lander on board, part of the crew would be ready to attempt a landing just during this mission.
What's next?
The next mission will be Artemis 3. It involves training in Earth orbit to dock with lunar landers being developed by SpaceX and Blue Origin. Launch is currently planned for mid-2027.
Artemis 3 was previously considered the first mission to land on the Moon in 2028, but NASA later changed the architecture of the entire Artemis program. This slightly delayed the human landing, which is now planned for the Artemis 4 mission.
Despite the technical difficulties, NASA is convinced that landing humans on the Moon is a realistic goal in the near future. If the schedule is met, NASA plans to deliver astronauts to the lunar south pole region as part of the Artemis 4 mission by the end of 2028.