NASA holds briefing for the return of Artemis I Orion spacecraft

The spacecraft launched for the first time back on Nov. 16. NASA says on its website that the Artemis I is the first in a series of missions to build "a long-term human presence at the Moon."

NASA considers this a dress rehearsal for the next moon flyby in 2024, with astronauts. A lunar landing by astronauts could follow as soon as 2025. Astronauts last visited the moon 50 years ago during Apollo 17.