This Is Why Why is NASA going back to the moon?
Mar 27, 2026
Thomas Moore, Sky News science and medical correspondent, explains mission mechanics and astronaut health. Tom Clarke, Sky News science and technology editor, outlines technical, political and program risks. They discuss Artemis II’s test flight profile, free‑return trajectory, life aboard the capsule, radiation protection, contractors and the geopolitical push to return to the Moon.
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Geopolitics Is Driving The New Moon Push
- The renewed space rivalry with China has influenced US political urgency and funding swings for lunar plans.
- Tom Clarke says US democracy causes programme shifts every four years, complicating long-term NASA projects.
Different Paths To The Moon
- China pursues a simpler single-rocket lander approach while NASA's Artemis relies on multiple launches and complex assemblies.
- Tom Clarke contrasts the continuous Chinese model with US programmes disrupted by changing administrations and budgets.
Prioritize Crew Safety Over Schedule
- NASA will abort or delay launches rather than risk crew safety; they canceled dress rehearsals when issues arose.
- After technical problems the program was bumped from January/February to April while teams fixed faults before human flight.