Back to the Moon
NASA confirmed that Artemis III, the first crewed lunar landing since Apollo 17 in 1972, is on schedule for late 2026. The four-person crew includes Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Zena Cardman, who will become the first women to walk on the lunar surface, alongside Commander Reid Wiseman and Pilot Victor Glover.
Landing Zone: The Lunar South Pole
Unlike Apollo, which landed in equatorial regions, Artemis III will touch down near the lunar south pole — a region permanently shadowed in some craters where ice water has been confirmed by orbital observations. This water is critical for future sustained human presence and as a source of rocket propellant.
"We are going back to the Moon not to plant a flag and leave. We are going to stay — and Artemis III is how it begins," said NASA's administrator at a press conference at Kennedy Space Centre.
Key Technology
The mission uses SpaceX's Starship Human Landing System, a fully reusable lunar lander capable of returning astronauts to the orbiting Gateway station. Artemis III will spend approximately 6.5 days on the surface — three times longer than the longest Apollo mission.
