the moon Archives - TPR: The Public's Radio

In this handout image provided by NASA, a view of the moon taken by an Artemis II crewmember through the window of the Orion spacecraft on Friday, the third day of the mission.

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What can Artemis II astronauts see that satellites haven’t captured?

by Ava Berger April 6, 2026April 6, 2026

The astronauts on Artemis II will observe parts of the moon rarely seen by human eyes. A NASA planetary scientist said it will offer a vital perspective for lunar research.

A view of Earth taken by NASA astronaut and Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman from the Orion spacecraft's window after completing the translunar injection burn on April 2, 2026.

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NASA’s Artemis II crew are quite the photographers. See what they’ve snapped so far

by Ayana Archie April 3, 2026April 3, 2026

Many of the photos that have come out of the moon mission so far were taken by crew members. NASA says the crew is getting guidance from scientists on what to capture when they get closer to the moon.

A view of Earth from NASA's Orion spacecraft during the Artemis II test flight on Thursday.

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NASA’s Artemis II has left Earth’s orbit, and 4 astronauts now head to the moon

by Nell Greenfieldboyce April 3, 2026April 3, 2026

With the last major firing of its engine, the Artemis II spacecraft is now on a path that will take it around the moon and back.

The mobile launcher containing the Artemis II Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft arrives at the Vehicle Assembly Building after a rollback that lasted over ten hours at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on February 25, 2026. NASA teams detected issues with the helium flow and removed the rocket from the launchpad.

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NASA redirects Artemis moon mission program, postponing a planned astronaut landing

by Brendan Byrne February 27, 2026February 27, 2026

In shaking up its Artemis lunar program, NASA’s new moon plan looks more like the Apollo missions of the 1960s. Instead of landing on the surface on Artemis III, NASA hopes to do so on Artemis IV.

A day after NASA said it was eyeing a potential March 6 launch date for the Artemis II lunar mission, the space agency now says new complications could derail all of the March launch dates. The rocket, seen here at the Kennedy Space Center launch pad on Friday, may need to be rolled back to the Vehicle Assembly Building for additional tests.

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NASA’s Artemis II lunar mission may not launch in March after all

by Russell Lewis February 21, 2026February 21, 2026

NASA says an “interrupted flow” of helium to the rocket system could require a rollback to the Vehicle Assembly Building. If it happens, NASA says the launch to the moon would be delayed until April.

NASA' says it's ready to launch four people on a trip around the moon on the Artemis II mission as early as March 6.

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NASA eyes March 6 to launch 4 astronauts to the moon on Artemis II mission

by Nell Greenfieldboyce February 20, 2026February 20, 2026

The four astronauts heading to the moon for the lunar fly-by are the first humans to venture there since 1972. The ten-day mission will travel more than 600,000 miles.

The moon shines over the Marrara Oval ground during the T20 international cricket match between Australia and South Africa in Darwin on Aug. 10, 2025.

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A ‘black moon’ will appear in the sky this weekend, but you won’t see it. Here’s why

by Chandelis Duster August 21, 2025August 21, 2025

A black moon is a type of new moon, when the moon is nearly between Earth and the sun.

A full super moon, rises behind a mountain in the village of Dodekametro, in the region of Arcadia in Greece, on July 10, 2025.

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NASA plans to put a nuclear reactor on the moon. Here’s what that means.

by Chandelis Duster August 8, 2025August 8, 2025

NASA is accelerating plans to have a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030.