NASA's astronauts from the Artemis II mission are already imagining their next mission — setting up a permanent lunar base. Just days after returning to Earth, they were rehearsing spacewalks as if they had landed on the Moon.

Christina Koch highlighted the crew’s enthusiasm: 'We were very much lifted up by the notion that we would get to contribute to astronauts doing this all over again, much sooner than we thought.' This pivot from a lunar space station to a surface base is making their mission feel not just like a test, but a critical step towards humanity's lunar ambitions.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced the shift in plans only a week before launch, during which time the crew was already quarantined. The astronauts’ readiness for this new directive suggests they are keen to embrace any challenge that accelerates their mission on the Moon.

The success of Artemis II is crucial for NASA’s future endeavours. It not only tested key systems but also demonstrated the feasibility and preparedness of its crew for more ambitious lunar operations. With a clear target in sight, the team is now excited to push the boundaries of space exploration once again.