Four astronauts are about to become the first humans to venture near the moon in more than half a century since NASA's iconic Apollo era ended.

NASA’s plans to launch astronauts to the moon in early 2026. The Artemis II mission is expected to carry a crew around the moon — though not to the lunar surface.

The 250th anniversary year of the Declaration of Independence will also feature the historic Artemis 2 astronaut mission around the moon.

NASA plans to send four astronauts on a mission to circumnavigate the moon, the first human lunar mission in over 50 years. SpaceX is expected to debut a new version of its Starship megarocket and continue developing it for future moon and Mars missions.

As reported by Space News, the China Astronaut Research and Training Center (CARTC) just wrapped up a month-long training regimen meant to prepare future and veteran astronauts for lunar landing missions. The astronauts were split into four groups, each of which spent nearly a week in underground isolation.

SpaceX says it's Dragon spacecraft at the International Space Station is ready to return its four Crew-11 astronauts home in an unprecedented medical evacuation on Jan. 14 and 15. "Dragon and Crew-11 are targeted t undock from the space station no earlier than Wednesday, January 14," SpaceX wrote in a mission update on X late yesterday.

After a fairly eventful mission to the Moon's surface, Charles Duke left several items on the Moon, and a message to whoever might find them in the future.

NASA plans to send four astronauts on a mission around the moon, the first human lunar mission in over 50 years. SpaceX is expected to debut a new version of its Starship megarocket and continue launching astronauts to the International Space Station.

NASA introduced its newest astronauts Monday, 10 scientists, engineers and test pilots chosen from more than 8,000 applicants to help explore the moon and possibly Mars. For the first time, there were more women than men in an incoming astronaut class.

The team includes the first woman and first person of color on a moon mission. NASA and the Canadian Space Agency announced Monday the four astronauts who will partake in the next Artemis mission and fly around the moon. The Artemis II team will be made up ...