NASA is preparing the first human mission to the Moon after 53 years

NASA is preparing to launch Artemis II, the first human mission to the Moon in 53 years, with a crew consisting of three American astronauts and one Canadian. The mission, scheduled to take off on April 1, will last 10 days and will test the Orion capsules and the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket.

This will represent a crucial step for the Artemis program, which aims to establish a human presence on the Moon and further exploration, including towards Mars. The astronauts will conduct checks of life support and navigation systems, and the mission will include a 'free-return' trajectory around the Moon.

In the context of competition with China, the U.S. is reaffirming its leadership in space exploration, with the ultimate goal of landing on the Moon in 2028.