Why is NASA going to the moon again?

Summary

Short Wave (NPR) – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Why is NASA going to the moon again?
Date: April 1, 2026
Host: Regina Barber
Featured Guest: Nell Greenfieldboyce (NPR Science Correspondent)

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Overview

This episode of Short Wave explores NASA's Artemis 2 mission, the first planned crewed flight around the moon in over fifty years. Hosts Regina Barber and NPR science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce discuss the motivations, logistics, challenges, and wider significance of humanity’s renewed efforts to return to the moon—and what this means for potential future missions to Mars and beyond.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Artemis 2 Mission: What's Happening and Why?

• Mission Overview: Artemis 2 is a crewed test flight intended to send four astronauts around the moon for the first time since 1972, using the new Orion capsule atop the large SLS rocket.
• Commander’s Emphasis:

  “When we get off the planet, we might come right back home. We might spend three or four days around Earth, we might go to the moon. That's where we want to go. But it is a test mission.”
  — NASA Astronaut Reid Wiseman (01:24)

• The main goal is to test life support, navigation, and crucial spacecraft functions ahead of a future moon landing.

2. Launch Details & Uncertainties

• Location and Atmosphere: Nell reports live from Kennedy Space Center, describing the intense media presence and excitement around the rocket.

  “…I can see it, but it looks tiny out there. I mean, in reality it's 322ft tall, but...from where I am, I can see it along with the big countdown clock, you know, which is under this American flag.”
  — Nell Greenfieldboyce (01:57)

• Timing: The earliest launch is 6:24 pm ET, April 1st, but delays are possible due to weather or technical issues (e.g., hydrogen leaks). There are several launch windows over the coming week.
  — (02:34-03:05)

3. Mission Objectives and What Makes This Mission Different

• Testing the Medium: Artemis 2 is primarily a shakedown cruise to see if Orion can safely handle multi-day spaceflight with people onboard, including everyday essentials like the toilet (“the first toilet to go around the moon”).
  — (05:05-05:44)
• Decision Point: Astronauts will make a key decision about heading to the moon about one day into the flight, depending on systems performance.
  — (06:08)
• Flight Path: If all systems check out, the capsule enters a “figure eight” path, approaching as close as 4,000–6,000 miles from the moon, then looping back to Earth.

  “NASA has said that from where they are, the moon is going to look about the size if you held a basketball at arm's length...”
  — Nell Greenfieldboyce (06:46)

4. Historical Context and Firsts

• Two Decades in the Making: NASA has been pursuing a return to the moon for 22 years, tracing back to a speech from President George W. Bush outlining plans for new exploratory vehicles and lunar missions.
  — (07:30-07:56)
• Trailblazers: Artemis 2 is notable for being the first lunar mission to include a woman (Christina Koch), a person of color (Victor Glover), and an international partner (Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen).
  — (08:26)

5. Future Plans: Moon Landings and Beyond

• Lunar Landers Under Development: NASA is working with SpaceX and Blue Origin to build lunar landers. Jared Isaacman (NASA admin, entrepreneur, and private astronaut) is pushing for rapid lander development, hoping for a Moon landing as early as 2028 (though Nell and Regina express skepticism about this timeline).
  — (08:31-09:17)
• Vision of the Future:
  • NASA doesn’t just want “flags and footprints,” but aims for “near continuous human presence on the moon,” akin to operations in Antarctica.
  • Ambitious plans for lunar bases, power stations, and monthly landings—but each phase is enormously expensive.

  “…he's got a three phase plan, and phase one alone would cost, like, you know, $10 billion.”
  — Nell Greenfieldboyce (09:25-10:15)

• Cost Estimates:
  • Through 2025, estimated Artemis cost: $93 billion. Individual SLS launches are several billion each.
    — (10:19-10:46)

6. Public and Political Support — Then and Now

• Apollo-era Drop-off: The original moon program lost momentum due to domestic priorities and lack of continued public enthusiasm.
• Current Support:
  • Many people today are unaware NASA is even actively pursuing Artemis.
  • Recent polls show a majority now support Artemis—potentially more than supported Apollo in its day.
  • NASA’s budget is now less than 1% of federal spending (compared to 4% during Apollo).
  • Artemis enjoys bipartisan Congressional support.

  “…there was one recent poll that found that a majority of Americans did support the Artemis program...there was like more support for this program now than there was for Apollo back in the 1960s.”
  — Nell Greenfieldboyce (11:37)

7. Looking to the Future: From Moon to Mars

• Moon as a Stepping Stone:
  • NASA frames Artemis as part of its “Moon to Mars” initiative.
  • Some argue the moon is essential as a testbed for deep space living, while others worry that interest will stall before Mars is reached.
• Proving Grounds: Living on the moon presents unique challenges essential to learn before committing to Mars travel: lunar dust, resource extraction, long-duration life support, etc.
  — (13:20)
• International Collaboration and Competition:
  • NASA partners include Canada and Europe. China is also seeking lunar landings, spurring whispers of a new space race, though some point out, “we already won.” — (13:22-14:02)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Historic Reflection:

  "We leave as we came with peace and eloquence for all mankind."
  — Apollo 17 Astronaut Gene Cernan (00:52)

• Why test first:

  "This is the first flight of the Orion capsule with a crew on board... that means testing everything from life support to, you know, even the toilet. This is going to be the first toilet to go around the moon, which is pretty exciting."
  — Nell Greenfieldboyce (05:05)

• The scale of investment:

  "Every launch of one of these big rockets like the one I'm looking at, it costs several billion dollars."
  — Nell Greenfieldboyce (10:46)

• Moon as a ‘proving ground’:

  "They see it as a proving ground. That's the idea... if you want to live on another planet, it's different than long term habitation in space in a space station like the International Space Station."
  — Nell Greenfieldboyce (13:22)

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:41: Introducing the context—first mission beyond low earth orbit since 1972.
• 01:49: Live from Kennedy Space Center—describing the scene, rocket, anticipation.
• 05:05: What Artemis 2 will test and why it’s not a given they’ll leave Earth orbit.
• 06:08: The go/no-go decision to head to the moon—"translunar injection burn."
• 07:30: A 22-year journey: historical political background and firsts for Artemis 2 crew.
• 08:31: Timeline for lunar landers and possible moon landing (2028?).
• 09:25: NASA’s ambitions for a lasting human presence—and the staggering costs.
• 10:46: Why did we stop after Apollo? What’s different about public/political support now?
• 12:30: Why are we going back? Is the moon a stepping stone to Mars?
• 13:22: International context: partnerships and emerging rivalry with China.
• 14:02: Close: anticipation for the launch and what comes next for Artemis.

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Final Thoughts

The Artemis 2 mission represents a crucial step toward humanity's long-term presence on the moon—testing new hardware, breaking representation barriers, and setting the stage for future landings and perhaps even Mars exploration. With public support growing, international partnerships forming, and a new generation of astronauts poised for lunar orbit, the stage is set for a bold new era of exploration—though technical, logistical, and financial obstacles remain.

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Recommended if You’re Interested In:

• Space history and the future of lunar/Martian exploration
• NASA’s Artemis program
• The intersection of science, politics, and public opinion
• How today’s astronauts and engineers build on the legacy of Apollo

Transcript

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[Regina Barber]

In just days, humans could get closer to the moon than they have in over half a century. The last astronaut to ever walk on the lunar surface was Apollo 17 astronaut Gene Cernan.

[Apollo 17 Astronaut Gene Cernan (archival audio)]

We leave as we came with peace and eloquence for all mankind.

[Regina Barber]

He and his crewmates left the moon in December 1972. Since then, no one has ventured so far out into space. Now though, NASA is poised to launch four astronauts on the Artemis 2 mission. The plan is to fly around the moon in a bell shaped capsule before coming back and splashing down into the Pacific Ocean. The mission's commander is NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman. He emphasized that this is a test mission.

[NASA Astronaut Reid Wiseman]

When we get off the planet, we might come right back home. We might spend three or four days around Earth, we might go to the moon. That's where we want to go. But it is a test mission.

[Regina Barber]

So what kind of test mission is it and what could it mean for NASA's long term moon plans? To answer those questions, we're checking in with NPR science correspondent Nell Greenfield Boyce, who's at the Kennedy Space center in Florida right now. Hey, Nell.

[Nell Greenfieldboyce]

Hey there, Gina.

[Regina Barber]

It is so cool that you're there for the launch. I'm very jealous. So where are you right now? Like, can you see the rocket that's going to blast off?

[Nell Greenfieldboyce]

Yeah, they have us out here at the press center, which is a ways from the rocket. So I can see it, but it looks tiny out there. I mean, in reality it's 322ft tall, but it's this, you know, orange and white rocket. And from where I am, I can see it along with the big countdown clock, you know, which is under this American flag. And you've got all the press trucks set up everywhere. And you know, it's a, it's a big to do. There'll be more people pouring in as we get closer to the launch.

[Apollo 17 Astronaut Gene Cernan (archival audio)]

Wow.

[Regina Barber]

Okay. So it's my understanding that the earliest this mission can launch is Today, Wednesday the 1st. And this is the start of the launch. Window, right?

[Nell Greenfieldboyce]

That's right. Yeah. So the earliest is 6:24pm Eastern Time on Wednesday, April 1, but it could be delayed by anything. There could be weather rolling in. There could be technical glitches like maybe a hydrogen leak. And if they have to delay, it depends on what the nature of the problem is. But it takes like 24 to 48 hours to get things reset up so they can try again. But they think over the next week they're going to have several launch opportunities. So people are feeling pretty good that we could see this go.

[Regina Barber]

Cool. Fingers crossed. Today on the show, humans returning to the moon, well, around the moon anyway, and traveling the furthest we as a species have ever gone into space. We'll be answering why people are returning to the moon and what it means for the future of living on other worlds. I'm Regina Barber and you're listening to Shortwave, the science podcast from npr.

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[Regina Barber]

Okay, Nell, so can you explain what these astronauts will be doing once they're in space? Because it's not a sure thing that they're going to the moon. Right?

[Nell Greenfieldboyce]

Right. So this is the first flight of the Orion capsule with a crew on board. So this is a chance for them to test out this vehicle with people on board. And that means testing everything from life support to, you know, even the toilet. This is going to be the first toilet to go around the moon, which is pretty exciting. Yeah, I once they get into space. The Orion capsule separates from the upper stage of the rocket, and they spend a while kind of doing maneuvers around that upper stage of the rocket to kind of practice what it would be like to have the Orion capsule doing rendezvous, doing maneuvers.

[Regina Barber]

Oh, like detaching, coming back in. Okay.

[Nell Greenfieldboyce]

Yeah. I mean, that's the kind of thing they're going to need to do in the future as they plan more ambitious moon missions. And so if everything goes well and it's maneuvering well, and the life support systems are good, and the navigation and everything, then, you know, they could decide whether they're gonna go to the moon.

[Regina Barber]

Okay, so when will they decide whether or not to head out to the moon?

[Nell Greenfieldboyce]

So that comes about one day into the mission. Okay. And if everything looks good, they'll do what's called the translunar injection burn, which is just a fancy way of saying their propulsion system is gonna send them out on this path that takes them on a figure eight around the moon. And, you know, if they go, it'll take them about four days to get out there. It's a distance of over 230,000. Wow.

[Regina Barber]

Okay, so if they do that, if they make that figure 8, how close are they actually going to get to the moon?

[Nell Greenfieldboyce]

Well, not that close.

[Regina Barber]

Okay.

[Nell Greenfieldboyce]

So depending on when they launch and everything, I mean, it's going to be about 4 to 6,000 miles away from the moon.

[Regina Barber]

Okay.

[Nell Greenfieldboyce]

On the other hand, it's a lot closer than the Earth is. Right. So NASA has said that from where they are, the moon is going to look about the size if you held a basketball at arm's length from your face. That's kind of how the moon will look to them. And then, of course, you know, behind it, you'll have the Earth looking very tiny and distant. And then, as you know, as they go around the far side of the moon, there's going to be this communications blackout. So for a while, they won't be in any contact with Earth, and then they'll come around the other side. So it'll be dramatic. You know, it may not be landing. They can't land, but there'll be some drama.

[Regina Barber]

Anyway, still, this mission is a huge deal. Right. Because NASA's been talking about sending humans back to the moon for what feels like forever.

[Nell Greenfieldboyce]

So they've been working on this basically for 22 years.

[Regina Barber]

Yeah.

[Nell Greenfieldboyce]

That's when then President George W. Bush gave a speech saying that NASA was going to finish building the International Space Station, retire the space shuttles, and then build a new vehicle to go to the moon.

[Apollo 17 Astronaut Gene Cernan (archival audio)]

We will build a new ships to carry man forward into the universe, to gain a new foothold on the moon.

[Nell Greenfieldboyce]

So, you know, they've been working towards that ever since. There's been some, you know, detours and twists and turns along the way, but that's been the plan for kind of a long time. And the other thing that's interesting about this mission is there's a lot of firsts involved in it. So it'll be the first woman to go out to the moon. Christina Cook. Astronaut Christina Cook. And there's going to be the first person of color, Victor Glover. And then there's the first non American. So in addition to these NASA astronauts, there's a Canadian Space Agency astronaut named Jeremy Hansen who's going.

[Regina Barber]

So how long after this test mission could we see like a moon landing?

[Nell Greenfieldboyce]

So for a landing you need a lander, right? You need a vehicle that can actually go down to the moon and then get astronauts up off it again. And that's in development. So there's two companies working on it. NASA has contracted with SpaceX and Blue Origin. And, and the new administrator of NASA is this guy, Jared Isaacman. He's a wealthy entrepreneur, a private astronaut, and he's been pushing those two companies to speed up development of the lunar landers. And he actually added a new Artemis mission next year that's supposed to test out one or both of them in orbit.

[Regina Barber]

Okay.

[Nell Greenfieldboyce]

So, you know, Isaac Min has said that there could be a moon landing as soon as 2028, assuming those tests of the lander go well. But you know, people I talk to think that that seems pretty optimistic.

[Regina Barber]

Yeah, so I feel like that is optimistic. But what's NASA's plan after this, like landing on the moon?

[Nell Greenfieldboyce]

So NASA has said that it doesn't want just flags and footprints, Right. It says that it wants to establish a near continuous human presence on the moon. Sort of like we have a presence in Antarctica. Right. So it's laid out this fairly ambitious plan that includes all these robotic Ms. Know, development of a power station and, and a lunar base where astronauts could live. And you know, Jared Isaacman has said recently that the goal is that there would be lunar landings of various kinds on a near monthly basis. The question is, is there going to be the money for that and the appetite for that? You know, I mean, they're saying they're going to do it cheaper than the days of the Apollo program because they're going to use commercial partners and stuff. But still, I mean, he's got a three phase plan, and phase one alone would cost, like, you know, $10 billion.

[NASA Astronaut Reid Wiseman]

Wow.

[Regina Barber]

Okay, so then how much will the whole thing cost?

[Nell Greenfieldboyce]

Well, it's hard to come by those numbers, but it's the best I can tell. There was a projection from NASA's Inspector General Office a few years ago, and it said through 2025, it was projecting total costs for the program of like 93 billion. And that was just, like, so far. You know, I mean, every. Every launch of one of these big rockets like the one I'm looking at, it costs several billion dollars. Wow.

[Regina Barber]

Okay. So, Nell, I think it's worth mentioning that, like, back in the 1960s, when, you know, humans did land on the moon, NASA kind of stopped after that. And they did so for many reasons, including that we had the civil rights movement being halted by assassinations. There was, like, more political upheaval from former President Nixon's corruption in Watergate, and there was a lot of disinterest in the government looking to the stars instead of helping people on Earth. So what is the public support now for Artemis?

[Nell Greenfieldboyce]

It's interesting. You know, leading up to this, I would talk to people, and a lot of people just weren't even aware that NASA was working to putting people back on the moon, you know? Okay, and then you have the fact that the majority of people alive today have been born after 1972.

[Regina Barber]

Yeah.

[Nell Greenfieldboyce]

There was never a time in their life when they looked up at the moon and thought, well, there's people there right now. You know. But having said that, there was one recent poll that found that a majority of Americans did support the Artemis program. And I was talking to one historian who pointed out that, you know, that poll suggests there was, like, more support for this program now than there was for Apollo back in the 1960s. Wow. I mean, there was a lot of enthusiasm around certain moments of the Apollo program, but, you know, support just kind of petered out once the space race had been wonderful, you know, they didn't want to spend all this money on it. I mean, they were spending a lot more back then. It was like 4% of the national budget compared to, you know, less than 1%, a fraction of a percent for NASA today. I will say, though, there is a lot of bipartisan support in Congress and there's been support over multiple administrations for this moon program. So we'll see if we do, you

[Regina Barber]

know, get bases on the Moon. What does that mean for, you know, humans living on other worlds? Not just the Moon, but other places? Like, what are we hoping to get from this.

[Nell Greenfieldboyce]

Well, lots of people in the space community feel that Mars is the obvious destination. Right. And so NASA actually considers this its Moon to Mars program. But so far there's been mostly moon and not really much to Mars. Some people question whether the moon is really a stepping stone to Mars or whether we would kind of get bogged down in the moon. But others say, well, you know, if you want to live on another planet, it's different than long term habitation in space in a space station like the International Space Station. So, you know, on the moon you've got to contend with stuff like lunar dust and you've got to figure out, you know, all kinds of things related to getting stuff there. Yeah.

[Regina Barber]

Like getting water from the ice and stuff like that, right?

[Nell Greenfieldboyce]

Yeah. They see it as a proving ground. That's the idea. And there are other nations who also want to go to the moon. It's worth noting. Oh, wow. So NASA is doing this, this program in partnership with international partners like the Canadian Space Agency, but also the European Space Agency. And so, you know, there's a lot of consensus that this is like a way of establishing a foothold beyond Earth. And China wants to go to the moon too. And so, you know, some people are trying to drum up kind of another space race with China, similar to the space race the 1960s. But others are like, look, we already won. The space race will always be first on the moon.

[Regina Barber]

Well, Nell, I really hope you get to see a launch today. Either way, though, whenever it happens, please tell us what comes next.

[Nell Greenfieldboyce]

All right. Well, it should be a fun mission, so I'll keep you guys posted.

[Regina Barber]

If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. It really helps out our show. This episode was produced by Arud Nair with help from Rachel Carlson. It was edited by Amina Khan and our showrunner, Rebecca Ramirez. Tyler Jones checked the facts. Kwesi Lee was the audio engineer. Special thanks to Carl Craft and Russell Lewis. I'm Regina Barber. Thank you for listening to Short Wave from NPR.

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