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NASA announce new moon mission for Artemis astronauts

The moon against a black sky, showing detailed craters and the moon's textured surfaceGetty Images

NASA would like to land astronauts on the moon in 2028

Today, NASA has announced that Artemis astronauts will have to complete an extra moon mission, before it will attempt to land them on the moon.

The update's been made two days after the Artemis II mission was pushed back to April - the second time it's been delayed - due to problems with the rocket.

Artemis II will send four astronauts on a trip around the moon, but a moon landing was originally planned to take place during its follow-up mission, Artemis III.

But now, this won't happen.

Instead, NASA says the Artemis III mission will involve astronauts riding in the Orion spacecraft, which they'll practise connecting to lunar landers whilst still orbiting Earth.

The orange and white Artemis rocket next to a towering grey space system. The American flag blows in the wind against a blue skyEPA/Shutterstock

Rocket problems have delayed the Artemis II mission twice

A lunar lander is a special spacecraft that works a bit like a taxi for astronauts.

It takes astronauts from their main spacecraft down to the moon's surface, then brings them back up again.

Why is the new moon mission important?

A photo of the Orion spacecraft that it took itself with the moon in the distanceNASA

The Orion spacecraft

Attempting to land on the moon is very risky, even for NASA!

The new mission will give NASA more time to practise docking the Orion spacecraft to lunar landers before the real moon landing happens.

This will help to keep astronauts safe.

As part of its new plan, NASA has said it would like to land astronauts on the moon as early as 2028.