Why the Artemis II launch is a key turning point in space exploration

• The Artemis II mission is considered a major step towards sending humans back to the Moon and establishing a permanent lunar base.
• Experts believe Artemis II marks the beginning of a new era in human space exploration, with future missions like Artemis IV planning extended stays on the Moon.
• The Artemis programme's long-term objective is to lay the groundwork for sending humans to Mars.
• While Artemis II will not land on the Moon, it is a crucial preparatory mission for subsequent lunar landings.
• The mission is also seen as a significant development in the global space race, with the US currently leading but China making considerable progress.

IN FULL

America is going back to the moon. Here’s why it’s a big deal - and why you should be OK with the $93 billion cost