Humanity's path from the Moon to Mars
The first uncrewed test flight of the SLS rocket and the Orion capsule. The spacecraft traveled 450,000 km from Earth and returned successfully.
The program's first crewed mission. Four astronauts will fly around the Moon without landing, the first human crew near the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972.
The first crewed Moon landing since the Apollo program. Astronauts will explore the lunar south pole, where frozen water is believed to exist.
Construction begins on the Gateway space station in lunar orbit: the station's first module, which will serve as a starting point for future missions.
Establishing a permanent base at the lunar south pole, able to sustain itself on its own: solar power, water extraction and oxygen production.
The experience gained on the Moon will serve as a springboard for the first crewed mission to Mars. Humanity will begin its expansion into deep space.