Humanity’s next giant leap isn’t just setting foot on the Moon again—it’s learning how to live, work, and thrive there so that Mars isn’t just a dream. NASA’s Artemis program, especially the preparation underway for Artemis IV, is laying out a roadmap not just for lunar visits, but for sustained deep-space exploration. This shift matters more than ever.
What’s New: Landing Site Workshop & Science-Driven Selection
NASA recently held a virtual workshop to choose Artemis IV’s lunar landing site based on scientific merit rather than just logistics.
On September 10, 2025, a Lunar Surface Science Workshop (LSSW) was held to gather input from the science community to define “figures of merit” that help evaluate candidate landing sites by their science potential. The Artemis IV Landing Site Process Overview document published by NASA outlines the criteria under discussion.
This is significant because past lunar missions often picked sites based on accessibility, power-illumination, or safety first; science was part of the equation, but less systematically so. By formalizing how we measure “science potential” for Artemis IV, NASA ensures that every EVA (moonwalk), every sample brought back, and every observation made will yield maximum scientific return.
This new process builds trust among scientists and helps set clearer expectations for what Artemis IV—and subsequent missions—can deliver, both in lunar science and in preparing for Mars.
Why the Moon’s South Pole (Especially the South Pole-Aitken Basin) Is So Important
The lunar south pole, especially regions around the South Pole-Aitken basin, offers unique scientific and resource advantages that make it ideal for Artemis missions.
The article you shared points out that Artemis is aiming for landing near the Moon’s south pole, because ice and “other critical minerals” may exist there. Over the past decade scientists have made big advances in understanding the South Pole-Aitken basin, which is one of the highest priorities in recent planetary decadal surveys.
Ice in permanently shadowed patches can supply water—for drinking, oxygen, possibly fuel—and stabilizing thermal environments. Minerals might support in‐situ resource utilization (ISRU), reducing what must be brought from Earth. The geology of the basin teaches planetary evolution: how large impacts shape a body, how the Moon’s crust and mantle are layered, how solar wind and micrometeorite bombardment alter regolith (lunar soil). That knowledge feeds directly into planning for Mars: Mars has ice, dust, and complicated geology; what we learn on the Moon helps reduce risk and improve technologies.
Choosing sites with both scientific richness and resource potential means Artemis IV won’t just be another mission—it’ll be a foundation for the Moon-to-Mars strategy.
How Artemis IV Will Be Different: Duration, Science, and Exploration Scale
Artemis IV marks a leap in scale and mission complexity compared to earlier Apollo and Artemis missions, pushing toward the operational model needed for Mars.
NASA materials state that Artemis IV astronauts will spend about six days on the lunar surface, execute up to four extravehicular activities (EVAs), travel as far as ~2 kilometers from the lander, collect samples, and deploy instruments to study lunar soil, dust, and other scientific phenomena. Space+1
These expanded surface operations give astronauts more time to test in-field geology/astrobiology methods, test habitat systems, mobility, spacewalk procedures, and life support under Moon conditions. The farther EVAs force the testing of mobility hardware and safety protocols. Sample return allows Earth-based labs to analyze moon material with far more detail. All of this gives NASA vital data for designing Mars missions: how to gear up astronauts for longer durations, greater distances from base, harsher terrain, and more complex scientific tasks.
So Artemis IV isn’t just another lunar landing—it’s a proving ground for everything needed for Mars: endurance, tools, knowledge, and systems.
Science Figures of Merit: What They Are and Why They Matter
The development of “science figures of merit” (FOMs) is central to optimizing Artemis IV for maximum scientific and preparatory value.
The LSSW solicited inputs to develop these FOMs. Criteria under consideration include planetary evolution, geologic/regolith/dust processes, solar science, physical sciences, and the potential for ISRU (resource extraction).
FOMs act as a weighted system: how much does a site contribute to goals like understanding lunar geology, preparing for dust hazards, or providing usable resources? With FOMs, NASA can systematically compare sites—not just on where it’s easy to land or where solar power is plentiful—but where the mission delivers data or resources that de-risk Mars missions. For example, comparing illumination curves, temperature swings, radiation exposure, communication visibility, proximity to shadowed ice, etc. This makes mission planning more data-driven, less guesswork.
As Artemis IV uses FOMs for site selection, it sets a methodology that can scale to future missions—including Mars mission planning, where trade-offs will be even more critical.
How Artemis Supports Key Mars Preparation: Technology, Operations, and Human Health
Artemis is not just about going back to the Moon; it’s about developing the technology, human knowledge, and operational experience needed for Mars.
NASA’s Artemis mission pages explicitly say part of the goal is to “learn how to live and work on another world as we prepare for human missions to Mars.” Also, the Artemis II crew will act both as scientists and research subjects to test how deep-space environments affect human health (radiation, immune system, cognition, sleep etc.).
Technology such as landers, habitats, mobility systems (EVAs, rovers or travel away from the lander), communication systems, power, thermal regulation—all must operate reliably in extreme lunar conditions. Human health is tested: radiation, isolation from Earth, dust exposure, low gravity etc. Each of these factors affects long-duration missions like those to Mars. Operational procedures (how long to stay outside, how to manage consumables, how to respond to emergencies) must be developed and refined. Artemis gives a nearer and more controlled environment than Mars for refining these systems.
By iteratively testing and improving during Artemis (especially IV), NASA reduces risk, cost, and unknowns for Mars missions. Learning what works—or doesn’t—on the Moon shortens the path to Mars.
Challenges & Limits: What Still Needs to Be Solved
Even with Artemis’ strong strategy, many technical, environmental, and programmatic challenges remain before Mars becomes feasible.
Artemis has had delays: Artemis II has been pushed to April 2026, Artemis III to 2027 in part due to spacecraft readiness and heat-shield issues. Also, assumptions about extracting lunar ice are still hypothetical in many cases: knowing ice is there is not the same as being able to mine, process, store, and use it reliably. Environmental hazards like lunar dust are poorly understood—dust is abrasive, electrostatically charged, and hazardous to both humans and machinery.
Delays remind us that readiness—hardware, safety, testing—is nonnegotiable, especially when human lives are involved. Resource extraction requires new technologies and operational experience. Human health factors like radiation exposure over long periods, psychological impacts, isolation, and performance in harsh terrain still require testing. Also budget, political will, international cooperation, and continuity are major non-technical hurdles.
Recognizing these challenges highlights that Artemis is necessary but not sufficient: it sets the path, but Mars still requires more advances, both technical and organizational.
Why This Matters: Scientific, Economic, Inspirational Impacts
The Artemis program’s shift toward sustainable lunar presence is important scientifically, economically, and culturally.
Science: returning new lunar samples, understanding solar system history, learning about planetary evolution and space weather. Economic: forging a lunar economy (commercial partners, resource extraction, infrastructure) and spinoff tech. Cultural/inspirational: Artemis is positioned to land the first woman and person of color on the Moon, engage public interest, and inspire STEM fields.
Scientific findings from the Moon can feed back into understanding Earth’s history, Mars, and exoplanet studies. Economic infrastructure such as lunar habitats, power systems, ISRU technologies may have terrestrial benefits. Public inspiration drives education, innovation, and long-term support. Furthermore, the international and commercial partnerships pave a model for future space cooperation.
These impacts ensure Artemis is not just a space mission—but a multi-dimensional investment in science, society, and the future.
What To Watch Next: Key Milestones
Several upcoming milestones will determine how smooth the Moon-to-Mars journey will be.
Near-term: selection of Artemis IV landing site using science FOMs; deployment of lunar mobility systems (rovers, EVA gear); Artemis II’s mission in ~April 2026, Artemis III landing planned in 2027. Also, technical progress on rocket stages, life support, ISRU experiments.
How well those milestones are met will test whether Artemis remains on schedule, whether the technology and human systems being developed perform as expected, and whether the data gathered aligns with what Mars missions will need. If landing site selection is optimal, sample return is fruitful, EVAs and mobility robust, then confidence builds. If delays or technical issues occur, that adjusts the timeline or increases risk.
Keeping an eye on these milestones gives a way to measure whether Artemis is truly changing trajectory toward Mars or merely another lunar program.
Conclusion
The Artemis program marks more than a return to the Moon—it marks a turning point in how humanity approaches space exploration. Rather than short, heroic visits, we’re seeing the intentional building of presence, infrastructure, science, and human resilience off Earth. Artemis IV, with its careful site selection, resource potential, longer surface stays, and expanded science agenda, is a critical inflection: it shows how the Moon is becoming our workbook for Mars.
For the first time in decades, we might say we’re not just aiming to touch the lunar surface again—we’re learning to stay there, grow there, and carry what we learn onward to Mars. And that may make all the difference. Explore the Cosmos with Us — Join NSN Today
