What the Artemis II Mission Means for Our Future

Kamila A-F.

In July of 1969,  Apollo 11 mission was deemed a success after landing on the moon with the iconic quote  “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” by Neil Armstrong. Now, nearly 60 years later, NASA launched a new bunch of incredible astronauts into space for the Artemis II mission. While it is only a quick trip around the moon, it has become a remarkable landmark and just one step for the future of the technological advancements being done. After all, it is officially the farthest any human has ever traveled into space. 

The Space Race was started due to the USSR and the U.S craving to beat the other at achieving space exploration. However, after the few trips to the moon by the U.S, it was pretty much concluded and the victory was given to America. While there were officially 17 Apollo missions and the last one would be in 1972, there was a cut in funding for the program that eventually halted any further exploration. There was no longer that push for political competition between the U.S and the Soviet Union once the goal of landing on the moon was met. 

However, the Artemis program was started in 2017 with a new goal in mind. NASA is planning to establish a lunar base for future space exploration. Nasa Administrator, Jared Isaacman stated passionately, “Just like Apollo 9, Artemis III will test next-generation hardware and integrated operations in 2027 before Artemis IV lands on the lunar surface in 2028. By flying Moon rockets at an annual cadence, we develop the muscle memory, knowledge, and confidence required to land American astronauts on the Moon and push further into space.".

It has caused great excitement not only for those working on the program but for the future of humanity overall. If the following missions are successfully completed, and if goals from other countries, such as China hoping to land on the moon by 2030, advancements and possibilities are endless in terms of space exploration. It potentially could catapult humans into having a more sustained presence past just Earth, possibly establishing on Mars and beyond. 

As of now, the Artemis II crew have successfully completed their mission and were welcomed home on April 10th. This trip alone has created several significant landmarks, and hopefully future missions will only surpass those accomplishments. These advancements in science are incredible, and we have the current privilege to witness the progress in technology and the understanding of astronomy. History is happening now.