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The Global Story

The Global Story

What was the point of Artemis II?

13 April 2026

27 minutes

Available for over a year

The Artemis II crew are back on solid ground having travelled further from earth than any human has before.

The mission was an undoubted success. But aside from getting some stunning photos of the moon’s surface and the tiny blue dot we call home, what did we actually learn? And was it just a big PR exercise?

BBC science correspondent Georgina Rannard joins us to discuss the point of the mission and what is next for Nasa.

Producers: Cat Farnsworth and Valerio Esposito

Sound engineer: Travis Evans

Executive producer: James Shield

Senior news editor: China Collins

(Photo: The Artemis II crew of Nasa astronauts attend a press conference the day after splashing down in the Pacific Ocean, at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Houston, Texas, US. Credit: Lexi Parra/Reuters)