NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has stated that Artemis II, a rocket mission to the moon, is the first step towards establishing a permanent base on the moon and eventually sending astronauts to Mars. The mission, which launched on April 1, took a four-person crew on a 10-day journey around the moon. The journey was a test ahead of further missions, including the planned Artemis IV, which will land astronauts near the moon's South Pole in 2028. Isaacman described the mission as an "opening act" of America's return to the lunar surface. He also highlighted the lessons learned from the crew on their 10-Day mission.