Woman ‘ to walk on the Moon in 2024’

THE first woman could

Moon within four years.

Nasa has outlined plans for a male and female astronaut to make the first lunar landing since Apollo 17 in 1972.

The pair would form the crew of a craft called Orion in the final leg of a three- stage mission costing £ 22billion.

Only 12 astronauts, all American men, have set foot on the moon, with the first landing made in 1969 by Apollo 11 crew members Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.

Now Nasa hopes the multi- leg mission, codenamed Artemis, will see an unmanned test flight next year.

That would be followed by a manned flight around the Moon in 2023 and a landing in 2024.

Nasa’s Jim Bridenstine said: “We’re going back to the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits and inspiration for a new generation of explorers.” walk on the

Buzz Aldrin during the first lunar landing in 1969