The Global Story

Nasa's Artemis II launch this spring marks the beginning of a new space race.

Episode details

World Service,23 Feb 2026,26 mins

The new race to the Moon

The Global Story

Available for over a year

More than 50 years since the last Apollo mission, Nasa is preparing to send astronauts back to the Moon.

Artemis II will take its crew farther from Earth than any human has travelled in decades - a crucial step towards landing on the lunar surface once again.
At the same time, China has been quietly advancing its own plans for a crewed Moon landing.

Some experts say this signals the start of a new space race – not just for prestige, but to build a long-term presence on the Moon, tap its resources and use it as a stepping stone to Mars. We speak to the BBC’s Science Editor, Rebecca Morelle.

Producers: Valerio Esposito and Cat Farnsworth

Executive producer: James Shield

Mix: Travis Evans

Senior news editor: China Collins

Photo: Official Artemis crew portrait. Josh Valcarcel/NASA Handout/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

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