On November 2022, NASA launched the Artemis I mission, marking a significant milestone in lunar exploration. This mission, the first since the program's inception in 2017, involved the Orion spacecraft orbiting the Moon for 8 to 21 days.
The Artemis program serves as a platform for NASA to explore and develop new scientific understanding of the Moon, Earth, and Sun. Enhanced support for the program has been demonstrated through the Artemis Accords, which have been signed by 12 of 45 global alliances, aiming to foster a peaceful future in outer space.
The naming of the Artemis mission reflects NASA's tradition of using names from Greek mythology, which began with the Apollo missions from 1961 to 1972. Artemis, the twin sister of Apollo, is known as the goddess of childbirth and protector of women, symbolizing hope for inclusive exploration.
NASA aims to make history by sending the first woman to the Moon's unexplored southern pole during the Artemis missions.