NASA Reaffirms Plan to Land Astronauts on the Moon in 2028
World
NASA has reaffirmed its plan to land astronauts on the Moon in 2028 under the Artemis IV mission. Agency Administrator Jared Isaacman said the United States intends to move beyond a short visit and establish the conditions for people to remain on the lunar surface for extended periods. In the longer term, NASA hopes to organize lunar expeditions comparable in duration to crew assignments aboard the International Space Station.
Isaacman said the program’s strategic goal is to establish a sustained presence at the Moon’s south pole and eventually build a lunar base there. Speaking to Fox News, he noted that astronauts have lived and worked continuously aboard the ISS for more than a quarter of a century. NASA aims to transfer the experience gained through long-duration space missions to the lunar surface.
Isaacman reiterated that the crewed landing planned for 2028 is part of Artemis IV. Under NASA’s published plan, a four-person crew will travel aboard Orion, while two astronauts will transfer to a commercial lander and spend about a week on the surface conducting scientific work, collecting samples and studying the lunar environment. After completing their tasks, they are expected to return to lunar orbit and rejoin their crewmates.
According to Isaacman, President Donald Trump’s national space policy calls for returning to the Moon not simply to plant a flag, but to stay and establish humanity’s first outpost on another world. To support that ambition, NASA is working with two developers of lunar landing systems: SpaceX and Blue Origin. The agency will select the lander for the first crewed landing based on technical readiness and each company’s ability to deliver astronauts safely to the surface and back to lunar orbit.
NASA is also revising the sequence of Artemis tests. In 2027, Artemis III is expected to test how Orion operates with commercial landers in Earth orbit. NASA continues to target 2028 for the landing while accelerating hardware development and preparations for more frequent missions. Its longer-term objective is to build sustainable infrastructure on the Moon, expand scientific research and help prepare for future missions beyond Earth orbit. NASA keeps this plan a priority.
Isaacman reiterated that the crewed landing planned for 2028 is part of Artemis IV. Under NASA’s published plan, a four-person crew will travel aboard Orion, while two astronauts will transfer to a commercial lander and spend about a week on the surface conducting scientific work, collecting samples and studying the lunar environment. After completing their tasks, they are expected to return to lunar orbit and rejoin their crewmates.
According to Isaacman, President Donald Trump’s national space policy calls for returning to the Moon not simply to plant a flag, but to stay and establish humanity’s first outpost on another world. To support that ambition, NASA is working with two developers of lunar landing systems: SpaceX and Blue Origin. The agency will select the lander for the first crewed landing based on technical readiness and each company’s ability to deliver astronauts safely to the surface and back to lunar orbit.
NASA is also revising the sequence of Artemis tests. In 2027, Artemis III is expected to test how Orion operates with commercial landers in Earth orbit. NASA continues to target 2028 for the landing while accelerating hardware development and preparations for more frequent missions. Its longer-term objective is to build sustainable infrastructure on the Moon, expand scientific research and help prepare for future missions beyond Earth orbit. NASA keeps this plan a priority.
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