Just weeks after the success of the Artemis II mission, NASA is rolling out its ambitious plan to establish a permanent base on the surface of the moon.

NASA will not attempt a crewed moon landing until 2028 at the earliest, the agency confirmed in April 2026 after inserting a new demonstration mission into its Artemis lineup. The decision, announced while the four Artemis II astronauts were still executing their lunar flyby,

NASA officials on Tuesday detailed the space agency’s plans to establish a lunar base, where astronauts could live and work long-term with the ultimate goal of studying the moon and its origins, as well as how best to send the first humans to Mars.

The lunar south pole has similarities to alpine environments in the West, with deep craters, steep slopes and harsh lighting that can create visual illusions.

The Artemis II crew is home safely after sending humans farther from Earth than ever before. The mission’s success was a critical step in NASA’s plans to one day have a lunar base and send humans to Mars. But for those of us still stranded on this pale ...

On June 9, NASA will reveal the astronauts who will fly on the Artemis 3 docking mission in Earth orbit next year.