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NASA wants to land the next man and the first woman on the surface of the Moon by 2024. Since the end of the Apollo program in 1972, no human has set foot on the orb lunar. But as part of NASA's Artemis program – a twin mission of Apollo – the space agency hopes to revitalize a new passion for spaceflight. According to Jim Bridenstine, director of NASA, the ultimate goal is for the Moon to act as a stepping stone to Mars.
Bridenstine said, "This time we will use modern technology and systems on the moon, which will allow us to come back again and again.
"It's also different with the Artemis generation. We will witness the long-term human and robotic exploration of our nearest neighbor.
"Then we will take what we learn on the moon and we will head to Mars."
With NASA sending robot probes to the moon in early 2020, Mr. Bridenstine said he hoped to inspire a generation of young people.
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"As the father of a young girl, it's important for my daughter to be able to look at the stars and see the first woman on the moon.
"Whether she grows up or not as a doctor and ultimately as an astronaut, she needs to see that it's possible.
"I believe that our body of astronauts today gives it this confidence.
"Like me and you, she's part of the Artemis generation."
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NASA's Artemis will explore the southern polar regions of the Moon between 2020 and 2028.
The first steps of the lunar program will focus on unmanned probes and rovers looking for the South Pole.
In 2024, the space agency will launch the first crews on the Moon using the space launch system (SLS) and NASA's Orion satellite.
By 2028, NASA wants to establish a "sustainable" presence on the Moon for its future missions on the Red Planet.
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Mr Bridenstine said that the space agency was committed to making these goals a reality.
He said: "Artemis is the twin sister of Apollo and a goddess of the moon. And she is now personifying our way forward in more ways than one.
"With the Artemis program, we will land the first woman and the next man on the moon.
"Many asked why we focused on sending the first woman. And I say often because it's high time.
"Our astronauts represent the best of us, and to do that, we must be able to see ourselves among them."
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