Lune

The "Lune," or Moon, is the celestial body at the center of NASA's Artemis program. This program marks a renewed effort to establish a long-term human presence on the lunar surface. News surrounding the Moon is currently driven by the upcoming Artemis II mission, scheduled for launch in early April 2026. This mission will send four astronauts (American and Canadian) in the Orion spacecraft around the Moon, representing the first crewed lunar flyby in over five decades. Artemis II follows an uncrewed test flight in 2022 and is considered a critical step towards future lunar landings and the establishment of a sustainable lunar base. The program is significant not only for its technological advancements but also for sparking discussions about the ethics of space exploration and potential post-colonial approaches to lunar resource utilization.