It feels like we’ve been waiting forever.
You probably have a vague memory of NASA saying something about returning to the moon with the Artemis program.
Maybe you even saw the big news in 2022 about the first woman and first person of color landing there.
But here we are, looking at the calendar, and it’s still not 1969.
Or 2024.
There is a lot of confusion out there. Oddly enough,
So, let’s cut through the noise.
When exactly will Artemis land?
The Short Answer (The Bad News)
Honestly, the news isn’t super bright if you want to see it happen next year.
The current best guess is Artemis III landing in late 2026 or early 2027. Now think about that for a second.
It is going to be delayed.
That is just how space exploration works.
It is expensive, it is complicated, and things break.
Most people think it’s going to be next year.
It won’t be.
But it is still the first time since 1972.
That part is still a huge deal.
Breaking Down the Timeline (What’s Happening Now)
To understand why it’s taking so long, you have to understand the sequence.
It’s not just one rocket going up and landing.
It’s a whole plan.
Artemis I: The Test Run (Done)
Okay, so this part is actually done.
In late 2022, an uncrewed rocket launched, went around the moon, and came back. And this is where things get interesting.
It was a big deal.
It proved the Orion capsule can handle the radiation and the distance.
It was a success.
Artemis II: The Crew Flyby (Coming Soon)
This is the next big step.
It won’t actually land.
Four astronauts are going to launch on the SLS rocket and fly to the moon.
They will swing around the moon and come back.
No touching the surface yet.
The target date for this is usually around late 2025 or early 2026.
Artemis III: The Landing (The Main Event)
This is the one you are asking about.
Two astronauts will land on the lunar south pole.
It will be historic.
But there is a catch. Now think about that for a second.
The rocket and capsule have to work perfectly, and so does the Human Landing System (HLS).
This is the actual lander they are going to use. And this is where things get interesting.
It’s being built by companies like SpaceX.
It has had its own problems getting approved and funded.
Why Is It Taking So Long?
It’s annoying, I know.
It feels like a bait-and-switch.
But if you look at the numbers, it’s not unreasonable. Here’s the interesting part.
NASA is building SLS from scratch.
It is the most powerful rocket ever built.
The Orion capsule is new technology too.
And the lander?
They are trying to buy a lander, but the budget was cut.
Now they are having to figure out a cheaper way to do it.
It’s a mess of politics and engineering.
But engineering usually wins out eventually.
Who Will Be On The Moon?
It’s not just going to be random people. Here’s the interesting part.
NASA has a whole Artemis Generation crew lined up.
I was reading about the candidates, and there are some amazing women and men picked for this.
- Commander: Likely Victor Glover or Reid Wiseman.
- Pilot: Victor Glover or JW Stewart.
- Specialist 1: Christina Hammock Koch or Nicole Mann.
- Specialist 2: Jessica Watkins or Matthew Dominick.
One of them is going to be the first woman on the moon. But there’s a catch.
That is going to be a defining moment for space history.
What Happens After They Land?
They aren’t just going to plant a flag and leave.
Well, they probably will plant a flag, but they are also staying for a while.
They are aiming for a 7-day stay on the surface.
They are going to explore the lunar south pole.
There is water ice there. But there’s a catch.
It’s dark and cold, but it’s a resource.
Collecting that ice could mean a base camp one day.
It sounds like science fiction, but it’s the goal.
How Can You Watch It?
You don’t have to miss out. Now think about that for a second.
NASA has a livestream for every launch.
It’s the best way to see history happen in real time.
I usually bookmark the NASA YouTube channel or their official website just in case.
It’s going to be a long wait, but it’s going to be worth it.
Image source: pexels.com
Image source credit: pexels.com