America’s Headed Back to the Moon — and then Beyond! [POST OP-ED]

By The New York Post Editorial Board

America’s space program is once again pushing toward new frontiers: For the first time in more than 50 years, the nation will send humans back to the moon — and then to Mars and beyond.

It starts with the liftoff of Artemis II, scheduled for Wednesday evening.

Yes, this mission in many ways is an echo, even a repeat, of the Apollo lunar flights of the ’60s and ’70s.

A crew of four astronauts aboard the Orion capsule will ride atop a 322-foot Space Launch System rocket; they’ll orbit the Earth, then head to the moon, circle it and return home over the course of about 10 days.

The trip will bring them the furthest from Earth any humans have ever been and return them at a record speed of 25,000 miles per hour, facing temperatures of 5,000 degrees.

Yet the point this time isn’t simply another lunar landing: It’s to prepare for even greater goals — such as the eventual establishment of a human base, with a continuous human presence, on the lunar surface and in lunar orbit, with a mission to Mars to follow.

Ambitious targets, sure, but that the United States is again setting such lofty goals — permanent establishments off the planet, and eventually across the Solar System — is a welcome revival of our collective ambition, love of adventure and sense of optimism and a fitting return to the ideals President John Kennedy invoked in announcing the nation’s first lunar mission in 1961.

And the payoff isn’t merely symbolic or abstract: The economic, military, political and scientific gains could be enormous — well justifying the program.

Artemis will explore the moon’s South Pole, for example, examining lunar ice for use to create drinkable water, breathable air and rocket fuel to supply a base there and expeditions farther out.

It’ll reestablish US supremacy in space expansion and help develop the commercial space-tech industry, creating jobs and economic opportunity.

And it’ll set the nation on a course to head off competition in space, particularly from China.

Of course, like the Apollo missions — and all manned space flights, for the matter — Artemis II faces real risks. But when have Americans let that keep them from achieving great things?

Pray the mission goes well, and cheer our country’s return to a familiar frontier — en route to entirely new ones.

Artemis II: America’s headed back to the moon — and then beyond! https://t.co/LqNFHqXj7i pic.twitter.com/RasQBLM2w6

— NY Post Opinion (@NYPostOpinion) April 1, 2026