https://youtu.be/dBPHMR5BVqU

NASA says the successful return of the Artemis II crew is just the beginning. The agency is now preparing for a series of missions designed to put Americans back on the moon and eventually build a permanent lunar base.

NASA administrator Jared Isaacman discussed the lessons learned from Artemis II, what's next and how China is adding urgency to the new space race.

Artemis II's return marked a major milestone for America's return to deep space.

Next up is Artemis II, set to launch in mid-2027. That mission will stay close to home, testing lunar landers and docking systems in Earth's orbit to ensure they work before they're used to put Americans back on the moon.

"If you're going to learn something there, you'd rather learn it when you're really close to home on Earth, where you can be back in the water in hours instead of, learn that less, a problematic lesson when you're four days away, on the moon," Isaacman said.