The spacecraft taking Americans back to the Moon just powered on

The spacecraft taking Americans back to the Moon just powered on, and is scheduled for liftoff in under a year.

The Artemis Moon exploration program has already seen one mission, but a second outing will be the first with human passengers.

It’s scheduled to occur in April 2026, but it’ll only be the beginning.

NASA is already looking ahead to further expeditions in 2027.

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Humans have been fascinated with space exploration for a long while now.

One guy in California has spent $5 million to find a way for people to get there for free.

And even when we’re not trying to reach for the stars, we’re trying to bring them down to Earth – space scented fragrances, anyone?

Not that you’ll be rushing out to the store anytime soon, as it reportedly smells like a mix of cat pee, rotting eggs, and raspberries.

But nothing has captured the collective human imagination like the Moon.

Ever since Neil Armstrong uttered the famous words ‘One small step for man…one giant leap for mankind,’ back in 1969, we’ve been hooked.

The Moon is of constant interest to space agencies – and those wanting to work with them.

Toyota has collaborated with NASA on a Lunar Cruiser to explore our only natural satellite, while private company Intuitive Machines has conducted missions of its own.

And yet, no humans have been to the Moon since 1972.

Thankfully, NASA is looking to change that.

The Artemis Moon exploration program has already sent a flight out into orbit, but with no passengers.

For the second round, however, humans will be heading out into space.

The second mission is entering the final stages of preparation, with liftoff anticipated to take place in April 2026.

However, Artemis II is merely the appetizer for what is set to come next.

Artemis III is already in the works, with a scheduled departure in 2027.

It recently hit a big milestone – NASA ‘powered on’ the Orion crew module of Artemis III for the first time.

For those not familiar with space jargon, here’s a quick summary of what the agency means by ‘Powered on’.

‘Power on’ means that the crew module’s two vehicle management computers and six power and data units were brought online.

This test was conducted at the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

It looks as if this test was a success, meaning that the next stages of prep work can begin.

Should all go to plan, Artemis III will see humanity return to the Moon in person for the first time in over 50 years.

The 10-day mission is expected to take four astronauts to the Moon’s South Pole.

We can’t wait for liftoff!

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