Why the United States Is Returning to the Moon with Artemis II

In the decades following Apollo, the absence of a clear rival to the United States has reduced the urgency of lunar exploration, while domestic priorities focused on lower-cost missions in low Earth orbit made sustained investment in Moon expeditions difficult. In the 2020s, however, China’s growing space capabilities have reintroduced external pressure, creating the conditions under which multiple administrations have supported a consistent lunar strategy.

National, Editor's PicksAbram GregoryApril 28, 2026Artemis II, NASA, North Carolina, Christina Koch, Space, Artemis IV, Space Race, ChinaComment

North Carolina's Moment in Deep Space

Whether the next generation of North Carolina students inherit the same opportunities may depend less on their ambition, which is plainly there, and more on decisions being made in Washington right now, far closer to home than the Moon.

LocalHolden RayApril 16, 2026Artemis II, Apollo 17, Deep Space, North CarolinaComment