The year is 2020. As of today, it’s been nearly half a century since an astronaut last set foot on the moon. NASA hasn’t paid much attention to the moon since the space race ended in 1975, but now they have revealed the Artemis program and are dedicated to returning to the moon.

The Artemis program is NASA’s plan to send humans back to the moon and with an added goal of creating a more permanent base of operations on and around the moon to make further research and exploration of the moon easier. 

NASA plans to use the rocket SLS or Space Launch System. This rocket is set to be the most powerful rocket ever built, even competing with Space X’s Falcon Heavy. The SLS currently has a $9.1 billion budget and is currently behind schedule.

Currently, NASA’s safety board warned of safety concerns and engineering compromises that would need to make Artemis ready for its 2024 estimated launch date. The program is exactly 33percent behind schedule, which has caused lots of strife about what to do with the program. 

Artemis and SLS are fundamentally important stepping stones leading us towards the exploration of the universe and we can gather vital information through this program that would be invaluable for our understanding of space travel and biology in space. 

With this program, NASA will finally return to the moon marking another milestone for mankind.