NASA to send 1st woman astronaut to Moon in 2024

US Space Agency NASA has revealed its latest plan to return astronauts to the Moon by 2024, which would take the first woman and the next man to the Moon under the Artemis programme.

The mission, which intends to land astronauts to the Southern Pole, could cost $28 billion. In a briefing, NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine spoke of the political risks that were the biggest obstacles to NASA's work, specially before an election.

Three projects are in the pipeline to build the lunar lander that will carry the two astronauts to the Moon. While Artemis I, an unmanned flight is scheduled for 2021 November, Artemis II will take astronauts around the moon without landing, in 2023. The stay on the Moon will last longer under the final one, called Artemis III and will include extravehicular activities.