NASA Artemis 2025 Update: How Close Are We to Returning Humans to the Moon?

1Where Does Artemis Stand in 2025?

NASA's Artemis program — the most ambitious human spaceflight initiative since Apollo — is entering a critical phase in 2025. After the successful uncrewed Artemis I mission in 2022, which sent the Orion capsule on a 25-day journey around the Moon and back, NASA has been working intensively to prepare for crewed missions. Artemis II will send four astronauts on a lunar flyby — the first humans to travel to the Moon's vicinity since Apollo 17 in 1972. Artemis III will then attempt the first crewed lunar landing in over 50 years, targeting the Moon's south pole, a region never before visited by humans. The south pole is scientifically valuable because permanently shadowed craters there contain water ice that could be used for drinking water and rocket fuel, making it the ideal location for a future permanent lunar base.

• Artemis I (2022): Successful uncrewed test — Orion traveled 450,000 km from Earth
• Artemis II: Four-person lunar flyby mission — crew announced, training underway
• Artemis III: First crewed Moon landing since 1972, targeting south pole
• Artemis IV and beyond: Building the Gateway lunar space station
• Long-term goal: Permanent human presence on and around the Moon by 2030s

2Meet the Artemis II Crew

NASA announced the four astronauts who will fly on Artemis II — the first humans to travel to the Moon's vicinity in over 50 years. Commander Reid Wiseman is a veteran Navy test pilot and former ISS commander. Pilot Victor Glover became the first Black astronaut to live on the ISS during a long-duration mission and will now become the first Black astronaut to fly to the Moon. Mission Specialist Christina Koch set the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman and will become the first woman to travel to the Moon. Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen will be the first Canadian to fly beyond low Earth orbit. Together, this diverse crew represents a new era of inclusive space exploration, embodying NASA's commitment to ensuring that the next chapter of lunar exploration reflects the full breadth of human talent and potential.

3The Space Launch System: The Most Powerful Rocket Since Saturn V

The Space Launch System, or SLS, is the rocket that will carry Artemis astronauts to the Moon. It is the most powerful rocket NASA has ever built and the most powerful rocket to fly since the Saturn V that carried Apollo astronauts to the Moon. The Block 1 version used for Artemis I and II generates 8.8 million pounds of thrust at liftoff — more than the Space Shuttle and comparable to the Saturn V. The upgraded Block 1B version planned for Artemis IV and beyond will be even more powerful, capable of carrying the Orion capsule plus large cargo modules to the Moon in a single launch. SLS uses four RS-25 engines — the same engines that powered the Space Shuttle — plus two solid rocket boosters derived from Shuttle technology. This heritage design approach allowed NASA to build on decades of proven technology while creating a rocket capable of deep space exploration. The core stage is 65 meters tall and burns liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, producing a spectacular blue-white flame at liftoff.

• Liftoff thrust: 8.8 million pounds — most powerful US rocket since Saturn V
• Height: 98 meters (Block 1) to 111 meters (Block 1B with upper stage)
• Engines: 4 RS-25 engines (Space Shuttle heritage) + 2 solid rocket boosters
• Payload to Moon: 27 metric tons (Block 1) to 38+ metric tons (Block 1B)
• Cost per launch: Approximately $4.1 billion — driving NASA toward commercial alternatives

4Gateway: The Moon's First Space Station

One of the most exciting elements of the Artemis program is the Lunar Gateway — a small space station that will orbit the Moon and serve as a staging point for lunar surface missions. Unlike the ISS, which orbits Earth, Gateway will orbit the Moon in a unique elongated orbit called a near-rectilinear halo orbit, which keeps it in constant communication with Earth while also providing easy access to the lunar surface. Gateway will be built in phases, with the first two modules — the Power and Propulsion Element and the Habitation and Logistics Outpost — launching on a commercial rocket. Astronauts will visit Gateway for stays of up to 30 days, conducting research and preparing for surface expeditions. The station will also serve as a waypoint for future missions deeper into the solar system. International partners including ESA, JAXA, and CSA are contributing modules and systems, making Gateway a truly global endeavor that builds on the successful model of the ISS.

5What Artemis Astronauts Will Do on the Moon

When Artemis III astronauts land near the lunar south pole, they will have approximately one week to conduct surface operations — far longer than the Apollo missions, which lasted only a few days. They will wear NASA's new Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit spacesuits, which offer far greater mobility than the Apollo suits and fit a much wider range of body sizes. The astronauts will conduct multiple moonwalks, collecting rock and soil samples from the ancient, permanently shadowed regions that have never been touched by sunlight. They will deploy scientific instruments to measure seismic activity, solar wind, and the lunar environment. Most importantly, they will search for and characterize water ice deposits — the resource that could make permanent lunar habitation possible. Every sample collected and every measurement taken will help scientists understand the Moon's history and prepare for the longer missions that will follow.

• Surface stay: Approximately 6.5 days — much longer than Apollo missions
• Moonwalks: Multiple EVAs totaling over 20 hours outside the lander
• Sample collection: Targeting ancient south pole rocks and water ice
• Science instruments: Seismometers, solar wind detectors, environmental sensors
• New spacesuits: AxEMU suits with greater mobility and wider size range

6Why Artemis Matters for the Next Generation

The Artemis program is more than a return to the Moon — it is the foundation for humanity's expansion into the solar system. The technologies being developed for Artemis, from advanced life support systems to in-situ resource utilization (using Moon resources to make fuel and water), will be essential for future Mars missions. The lessons learned from establishing a sustainable presence on the Moon will directly inform how we build the first human settlement on Mars. For children following the Artemis program today, this is not just history in the making — they are preparing to make it.