About Artemis IV — Return to the Moon
Artemis IV is planned as the moment humanity returns to the Moon's surface — the first crewed lunar landing since Apollo 17 in December 1972, more than half a century ago. NASA is targeting early 2028, and the countdown above tracks the wait; dates remain estimates until the agency confirms.
The plan: astronauts launch on the SLS rocket aboard Orion, rendezvous with a commercial Human Landing System, and descend to the lunar South Pole region — terrain no human has ever visited, chosen for its permanently shadowed craters that hold water ice, the key to a sustained presence. The mission is set to include the first woman to walk on the Moon.
Twelve people have walked on the Moon, all between 1969 and 1972, all on missions shorter than two weeks. Artemis aims for something different: not flags and footprints but a permanent return — a lunar space station (Gateway), surface habitats, and eventually the proving ground for Mars. Whenever the landing happens, it will be the most-watched moment in spaceflight since Apollo 11. This countdown is for everyone who wants to see it live.
FAQ
When will humans land on the Moon again?
NASA plans Artemis IV for early 2028 as the program's first crewed lunar landing — the countdown above tracks the estimated date.
When did humans last walk on the Moon?
December 1972 — Apollo 17 astronauts Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt were the last of twelve moonwalkers.
Where will Artemis IV land?
The lunar South Pole region, targeted for its water-ice deposits in permanently shadowed craters — a resource for sustained exploration.
Who will walk on the Moon on Artemis IV?
The crew has not been named yet. NASA has committed to landing the first woman on the Moon during the Artemis program.