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NASA is preparing to launch the Artemis II mission, the first crewed expedition to the Moon since Apollo in 1972. The mission, scheduled for no earlier than February 6, 2026, involves astronauts testing the Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System (SLS) for a 10-day journey around the Moon.

Crew members include NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency. This mission aims to lay the groundwork for sustainable lunar exploration and future Mars missions.

Artemis III, targeting a human landing on the Moon, is planned for 2027. NASA's Artemis program is a response to increasing competition, particularly from China, which aims for a crewed Moon landing by 2030.