For the first time in half a century, astronauts are going to the Moon

• They will not land. • Others, both American and Chinese, soon may

Article Summaries:

• NASA’s Artemis III will carry astronauts to lunar orbit for the first crewed Moon visit in 50 years, but the mission will not include a landing. The spacecraft will orbit the Moon and return to Earth, marking a milestone in human spaceflight. Meanwhile, both the United States and China are preparing for future crewed lunar missions, with China’s space agency reportedly planning a crewed flight to the Moon within the next few years. The upcoming missions underscore renewed international interest in lunar exploration and the potential for future surface operations.

Sources:

• https://www.economist.com/interactive/science-and-technology/2026/01/29/for-the-first-time-in-half-a-century-astronauts-are-going-back-to-the-moon