{"id":107734,"date":"2026-03-28T12:44:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-28T12:44:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/28\/nasas-astronauts-are-going-to-the-moon-with-help-from-silicon-valley\/"},"modified":"2026-03-28T12:44:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T12:44:18","slug":"nasas-astronauts-are-going-to-the-moon-with-help-from-silicon-valley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/28\/nasas-astronauts-are-going-to-the-moon-with-help-from-silicon-valley\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA\u2019s Astronauts Are Going to the Moon, With Help From Silicon Valley"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The astronauts have been quarantined since March 18. Tu said the astronauts are very excited about this trip.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is going to be historic,\u201d Tu said. \u201cThey have been training for a while, certainly years.\u201d<\/p>\n

The schedule for launch was previously delayed by a hydrogen leak issue discovered in a previous attempt. NASA had to roll the vehicle back to the Vehicle Assembly Building to address the challenge.<\/p>\n

The launch also faced delays by what Tu called \u201corbital mechanics,\u201d or the factors shaping the ideal window to go to the moon.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut we\u2019ve addressed those issues, and we feel we\u2019re ready to go,\u201d Tu said.<\/p>\n

Artemis II is part of a system intended to get humans to the moon more frequently, with the goal of eventually exploring further out into outer space. NASA\u2019s administrator said earlier this week that there are plans to build a moon base.<\/p>\n

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Artemis II Post Insertion and Deorbit Prep Training with crew members Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen on Jan. 30, 2025, at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. (Mark Sowa\/NASA)<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThe Apollo missions \u2026 were only on the surface of the moon for a number of days,\u201d Tu said. \u201cBut this time, we are going back to the moon to establish a permanent presence, a sustained presence, and also learn what we need to learn to eventually bring humans to Mars.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said there are industries and commercial entities interested in the moon, and Artemis 2 is a stepping stone to space tourism.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s the commercial aspects of lunar exploration. There are industries and commercial entities that are interested in potentially resources on the moon, maybe even eventually tourism on space, tourism to the moon. And so this is really a stepping stone to that, to that future of sustained presence beyond low Earth orbit,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Mission Artemis II has been years in the making, but NASA is already planning to launch Artemis III next year with further testing.<\/p>\n

Artemis IV, a lunar landing mission, is also on the horizon. Artemis V will continue that work, and future plans could include commercial launch vehicles.<\/p>\n

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Artemis II Post Insertion and Deorbit Prep Training with crew members Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen on Jan. 30, 2025, at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. (Mark Sowa\/NASA)<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tu said it\u2019s too soon to speculate on Mars because there is much to learn from the Artemis missions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe journey to Mars is going to take a bigger effort and is going to require partnerships with the commercial sector, maybe even international partnerships,\u201d he said. \u201cBut this is the first stepping stone.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Artemis II launch, from Florida\u2019s Kennedy Space Center, can be livestreamed via NASA\u2019s YouTube channel<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n