NASA Plans Crewed Return to Moon Surface
NASA's Artemis missions aim to return astronauts to the lunar surface for the first time in more than 50 years.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Space
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NASA plans to send humans back to the moon's surface for the first time in more than 50 years through its Artemis missions. Planetary scientist Dr. Barbara Cohen, who has worked on parts of the Artemis program, is scheduled to speak at Boise State University's First Friday Astronomy program.
Why it matters
The Artemis missions mark a return to crewed lunar exploration after a gap of more than half a century. For U.S. readers, the program represents a major federal space effort with scientists across NASA centers contributing to its development.
The planned return is measured against a gap of more than 50 years since the last crewed lunar surface mission. Specific mission dates and crew details were not provided in the available extraction.
The players
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the U.S. federal agency responsible for civil space exploration, including the Artemis lunar program.
Dr. Barbara Cohen
Dr. Barbara Cohen is a planetary scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center who has worked on several parts of the Artemis mission and has an asteroid named after her.
The details
Dr. Barbara Cohen, a planetary scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, has worked on several parts of the Artemis mission, including Artemis III. She is scheduled to present at Boise State University's Physics Department First Friday Astronomy program, which pairs a guest space scientist each month with stargazing when weather permits.
Timeline
November 6, 2026: Dr. Barbara Cohen speaks at Boise State University's First Friday Astronomy program in Boise, Idaho.
Roadmap
The Artemis missions revive the crewed lunar surface program last carried out during the Apollo era of the 1960s and early 1970s. The planned return follows that precedent after more than five decades without humans on the moon's surface.
The Artemis missions could eventually expand scientific research on the lunar surface and influence future space technology development. Readers interested in the program can follow NASA's published mission updates as the schedule is announced.
The takeaway
The return of crewed missions to the moon's surface would mark the end of a more than 50-year gap in human lunar exploration. Readers can follow NASA's Artemis program announcements for updates on schedules and crew.
Further reading
Explore more in Space coverage on NASA's lunar plans.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Boise State Public Radio.
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Should the U.S. keep spending heavily on space exploration like the Artemis moon missions?
