Artemis II - What Comes Next? My Thoughts.

Video Credit- NBC News, YouTube channel 2026

The Artemis II launch was amazing and it made many on Earth wonder about what comes next for NASA, the commercial space industry and mankind's next ambition in the universe.

Artemis III is the next mission for NASA which is very exciting and Artemis IV involves astronauts walking on the Moon. The target date for the lunar walk is 2028 followed by Artemis V in 2029 involving th establishment of a Moon base.

I was excited and satisfied to know that NASA is planning on a Moon base by 2029 (or at least th beginning stages of one). How cool and futuristic is that prospect? As a long time fan of space travel and dreamer of Moon bases, this surprised me.

What do we need to learn before we make our move to build a literal base on the Moon? We are focusing on using surface ice on the Moon that astronauts on Artemis IV will encounter to make water and potentially liquid oxygen fuel. The lunar surface has plenty of materials to make materials we need including solar panels. We also need to learn to make the best shields to protect our astronauts from radiation and the harsh conditions on the Moon for the long term missions of the future.

The Artemis time frame extends for a few years, and the findings and innovations are promising. What comes next could lay the foundation for Mars missions and for the establishment of settlements on other planets. Here's to a grand future!