NASA says its upcoming Artemis moon missions will serve as critical preparation for future human exploration of Mars.
Speaking at a virtual Artemis IV landing site science workshop on September 10, Jacob Bleacher, NASA’s chief exploration scientist, said the programme will focus on developing technologies and strategies for extended stays beyond Earth. Unlike the short Apollo missions of the 1960s and 1970s, Artemis aims to test how astronauts can “live and operate away from the Earth” for longer durations.
Artemis IV, scheduled for no earlier than 2028, will send astronauts to the lunar south pole for a six-day mission. Crew members are expected to collect soil samples, conduct research, and complete up to four moonwalks spanning nearly two kilometres from their lander. The mission will also examine resources such as ice and minerals that could support future exploration.
NASA is engaging the scientific community to help evaluate potential landing sites based on their research value. Priorities include studying planetary evolution, lunar dust processes, and solar science. The agency is also seeking collaboration with commercial partners and international bodies to build long-term infrastructure and advance a “lunar economy.”
The Artemis programme has already seen an uncrewed test mission, Artemis I, in 2022. Artemis II, carrying four astronauts around the moon, is targeted for April 2026, followed by Artemis III, which aims for a landing in 2027 pending the readiness of SpaceX’s Starship Human Landing System.
