On 12 February, NASA's Artemis-1 mission will be launched, with the ultimate goal of putting another man on the Moon in 2024.
The Orion space capsule was placed on the SLS (Space Launch System) super-heavy rocket last week, marking the final phase of preparations by the US space company. No humans will travel on board the spacecraft during Artemis-1, but will do so during the Artemis-2 mission.
The Artemis programme aims to enable astronauts to Return to to the Moon and live and work on the sky for longer. Experts say the target date of 2024 is almost certainly unachievable for technical and funding reasons.
NASA's Artemis programme will send two astronauts into space in 2024, one of whom will be a woman. This will be a major milestone for the US space agency, as the Apollo programme has only involved white men. Last year, NASA announced the 18 astronauts who, after extensive training, will eventually be selected to go to the Moon.
