After the successful return of Artemis II, the next big step in space exploration is already taking shape, and it’s a major one. Artemis III is the mission that aims to actually land humans back on the Moon for the first time in over 50 years. Right now, it’s expected sometime around 2027 or 2028, after a few delays tied to developing new technology. The plan is ambitious. NASA will launch astronauts aboard the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, but the landing itself will rely on a completely different vehicle, a lunar lander being developed by SpaceX called Starship. Once in orbit around the Moon, the crew will transfer into that lander and head down to the lunar South Pole, region scientists are especially interested in because it may contain water ice.
This mission also carries historic significance. It’s expected to land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon, marking a new chapter in human spaceflight.
There are still challenges ahead, including complex in-orbit refueling and testing, but if everything comes together, Artemis III won’t just be a return to the Moon. It’ll be the start of a longer-term human presence there.
