Article

NASA is set to launch the Artemis II mission, marking humanity's return to lunar orbit after 50 years. This mission is part of the Artemis program, initiated in 2022 with the uncrewed Artemis I test flight.

Artemis II will be the first crewed mission using the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, with four astronauts aboard for a ten-day journey around the Moon, without landing. The mission aims to test critical systems including communications and life support.

Preparations are in the final stages at Kennedy Space Center, with a launch planned for February 2026. Scientific objectives include measuring radiation in space and assessing system performance. Artemis III is anticipated for mid-2027, aiming for a crewed landing at the Moon's south pole to conduct geological studies and establish a base for future Mars missions.