NASA Outlines Next Steps After Successful Artemis II Moon Flyby

The space agency plans to accelerate the pace of lunar landings and build a base on the moon's surface in the coming years.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 1:50am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A bold, highly structured abstract painting in muted earthy tones, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric planetary circles, and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the complex forces and ambitious scope of NASA's Artemis program and its plans to establish a permanent lunar base.NASA's renewed focus on building a permanent lunar base represents a significant shift in the agency's strategy, aimed at maximizing the scientific and technological benefits of a sustained human presence on the moon.New Orleans Today

NASA's Artemis II mission, the first crewed flight to the moon in over 50 years, safely splashed down off the San Diego coast on Friday. With the successful test flight complete, the space agency has outlined an ambitious plan to return to the lunar surface, including scrapping plans for a moon-orbiting space station in favor of a base on the moon's surface. The next Artemis missions will focus on testing docking procedures and landing systems, with the goal of landing astronauts at the moon's south pole in 2028 and establishing a sustained presence.

Why it matters

NASA's Artemis program represents a major milestone in the agency's efforts to return humans to the moon, which could pave the way for future deep-space exploration missions, including a potential crewed mission to Mars. The shift to a lunar surface base rather than an orbiting station also signals a strategic change in NASA's approach, prioritizing hands-on experience and testing on the moon itself.

The details

The next Artemis mission, Artemis III, is slated for 2027 and will focus on testing docking procedures between the Orion spacecraft and lunar landers that will carry astronauts to the surface. Artemis IV, planned for early 2028, will send the Orion spacecraft to the moon's orbit, with a lunar lander taking two astronauts down to the south pole for a week-long stay. Future Artemis missions aim to accelerate the cadence of lunar landings to one every six months, continuing to test and refine the technology needed for a sustained presence on the moon.

  • Artemis II safely splashed down off the San Diego coast on Friday, April 12, 2026.
  • Artemis III is slated for 2027.
  • Artemis IV is planned for early 2028.
  • NASA plans to announce the Artemis III crew 'soon'.
  • The agency plans to ship the massive orange core stage for the Artemis III rocket from New Orleans to Florida this month.

The players

Jared Isaacman

The new NASA administrator, who was born over a decade after the last Apollo mission and is committed to a faster pace of lunar exploration.

Jeremy Hansen

A Canadian Space Agency astronaut and Artemis II mission specialist, who spoke eloquently about the experience of seeing the moon and Earth from space.

Blue Origin

The private space company founded by Jeff Bezos, which has been tapped by NASA to develop lunar landers for the Artemis program.

SpaceX

The private space company founded by Elon Musk, which has also been selected by NASA to develop lunar landers for the Artemis program.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“You hear sometimes around here, 'this is a once in a lifetime' — no its not. This is just the beginning, we are going to get back into doing on this with frequency, sending missions to the moon until we land on it in 2028 and start building our base.”

— Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator

“I would suggest to you that when you look up here, you're not looking at us. We are a mirror reflecting you. And if you like what you see, then just look a little deeper. This is you.”

— Jeremy Hansen, Canadian Space Agency astronaut and Artemis II mission specialist

What’s next

NASA is already building its next high-power rocket to launch the Artemis III Orion spacecraft, and the agency plans to ship the massive orange core stage from New Orleans to Florida this month. The Orion spacecraft's main two sections are already at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

The takeaway

NASA's Artemis program represents a significant shift in the agency's approach to lunar exploration, moving away from an orbiting space station in favor of a base on the lunar surface. This strategic change reflects a focus on hands-on experience and testing, which could ultimately pave the way for future deep-space missions, including a potential crewed mission to Mars.