Artemis II: First Manned Lunar Mission Since Apollo 17 Completes Orbit
Artemis II successfully orbited the Moon with a crew on April 1, 2026, marking the first manned mission in over 50 years. This mission is a critical step toward establishing a human presence on the Moon and preparing for future Mars missions.

On April 1, 2026, astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen completed the Artemis II mission, orbiting the Moon and returning safely to Earth. This mission utilized the Space Launch System (SLS) and the Orion capsule, both of which were previously tested in the uncrewed Artemis I mission in 2022.
The Artemis program aims for sustained human presence on the Moon, with Artemis III planned for a lunar landing in 2028. The United States faces competition from China's goal of a crewed Moon landing by 2030. The mission establishes a foundation for future Mars exploration.




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