NASA is set to launch its second mission of its Artemis program, originally schedule for February, this week. During a wet dress rehearsal of the rocket-towering system at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral,

NASA unveiled plans to build a moon base near the lunar south pole that will one day allow for American astronauts to have a permanent presence.

As four astronauts get set to blast off on humanity’s first trip to the moon in more than half a century, comparisons between Apollo and NASA’s new Artemis program are inevitable. The world’s first lunar visitors orbited the moon on Apollo 8.

People may know Artemis as NASA’s return-to-the-Moon program. However, it is much more than a rerun of Project Apollo.

NASA announced updates to the Artemis program, including phased lunar landings, increased commercial involvement, and new nuclear propulsion missions to support sustainable Moon operations.

NASA’s Artemis program will establish a sustainable lunar presence, unlock new scientific discoveries, and develop technologies for spaceflight to Mars and beyond – and students can help shape this new era of space exploration.