Artemis II: NASA’s First Crewed Mission Around the Moon

NASA’s Artemis II mission will be launched on the massive Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, shown here carrying its Orion spacecraft. This heavy lift rocket is the most powerful ever built, capable of sending Orion far beyond Earth’s orbit. Artemis II builds on the success of Artemis I, which in 2022 carried Orion on a three week journey around the Moon. That uncrewed flight tested many key systems of Orion and SLS, paving the way for astronauts to fly beyond low Earth orbit once more. Now, after years of preparation, Artemis II will carry four astronauts on a mission around the Moon and back.

 

The Artemis Program: Returning to the Moon

 

NASA’s Artemis program represents the space agency’s renewed push to the Moon after decades. The name “Artemis” comes from the Greek goddess of the Moon, chosen to symbolize a modern follow-up to the Apollo missions. The goals of Artemis include landing humans on the lunar surface, developing a lasting presence on and around the Moon, and using that experience to prepare for eventual missions to Mars. Artemis I in 2022 was the first flight of this program – an uncrewed test that sent Orion on a three-week tour of space around the Moon, checking heat shields and communications.

 

Artemis II is part of a series of missions in the 2020s. The timeline has shifted over time, but NASA is now aiming to launch Artemis II in the mid-2020s. Future missions include Artemis III, which will aim to land astronauts near the Moon’s south pole (carrying the first woman and first person of color to the Moon’s surface), and Artemis IV around 2028, which will bring equipment and crew to the lunar Gateway station. Each mission will add new steps: building the Gateway outpost in orbit, landing on the surface, and eventually establishing a base camp. In the long run, the Artemis effort is designed to create sustainable exploration of the Moon, with international partners and commercial spacecraft, and to use the Moon as a training ground for going to Mars.

 

International cooperation is a key part of Artemis. For example, the European Space Agency (ESA) built the Orion spacecraft’s service module, which provides propulsion, electricity, water, and air for the crew. ESA recently delivered the second Orion service module for Artemis II. In exchange, European astronauts and scientists will get seats on Artemis missions. Canada is another partner: because the Canadian Space Agency is building the Canadarm3 robotic arm for the Gateway station, one of its astronauts is onboard Artemis II. Overall, Artemis brings together NASA and many other countries, along with private companies, all working toward exploring the Moon together.

Artemis II Mission Overview

 

Artemis II will be the first mission to carry a crew on the Orion spacecraft and the SLS rocket. Four astronauts will fly aboard Orion on a roughly ten-day flight around the Moon. During this time, they will operate the spacecraft, test its systems, and gather critical data. The crew will test Orion’s environmental life support (air, water, temperature control), navigation systems, and communications under real deep-space conditions. They will also manually fly Orion at times, learning to pilot it beyond Earth orbit. The main goal is to demonstrate that Orion can keep humans safe and comfortable in the harsh environment of deep space. In effect, Artemis II is a test flight with people aboard, ensuring that all elements are ready before attempting a Moon landing on Artemis III.

 

On launch day, the crew will board Orion at the Kennedy Space Center and strap in. When the SLS rocket ignites, its five RS 25 main engines and two side boosters will lift Orion into the sky. Within minutes, the boosters will fall away and Orion will coast into a temporary Earth orbit. Engineers will quickly check that the spacecraft is healthy. After that, Orion’s upper stage (the ICPS) will fire to send the capsule on its way. The trajectory is designed so that Orion will travel past the Moon and loop back – a path called a free return trajectory. In practice, this means Orion will fly behind the Moon and return to Earth on its own, without needing an additional engine burn after looping around. The crew will see the Moon’s far side from Orion and will be out of direct radio contact for a short time when they pass behind it. Then Orion will reappear and head home.

 

Artemis II will reach farther into space than any mission since Apollo 17 in 1972. The astronauts will travel well beyond the far side of the Moon, about 4,600 miles (8,900 kilometers) past the lunar surface. In doing so, they will become the farthest humans ever from Earth – even farther than the Apollo 13 crew got. During their journey, the crew members will experience long periods of weightlessness and witness breathtaking views: the Moon below and the distant blue dot of Earth rising above the horizon. This alone will be an extraordinary experience and a vivid reminder of why humans explore space.

 

Throughout the mission, the crew and ground teams will closely monitor Orion’s performance. The astronauts will regularly check navigation and propulsion, run through checklists, and keep Mission Control informed. Orion’s systems – like its power regulators, computers, and thermal control – will be stressed in ways that can only be tested in flight. Orion’s new life support system (delivering breathable air, recycling water, and maintaining cabin pressure) will be used for the first time with people aboard. The capsule will also carry small science payloads and sensors to measure deep-space radiation and other conditions. All of these data will tell engineers how Orion and the crew are faring, information that will be vital for planning future Artemis flights.

 

Artemis II is also designed as an operational rehearsal. For example, as Orion returns to Earth, the astronauts will practice an orbital rendezvous drill. They will simulate approaching and aligning the spacecraft as if they were going to dock with the future Lunar Gateway station in orbit around the Moon. This is a training opportunity to practice navigation and flying skills at a distance, even though the actual docking port is not yet there. By doing these exercises, the crew gains confidence in piloting Orion and teams gain confidence in the procedures for Artemis III and beyond. In between major events, the crew will carry out planned tasks to make the most of their time: medical check-ups, Earth observation, and possibly more experiments on the effects of deep space on human biology. In short, every day of the ten-day mission will be busy, blending technical tests, training, and science.

 

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Mission Timeline and Phases

 

Before reaching the Moon, Orion will fire its main engine to begin the translunar injection burn, as depicted here. Once it separates from the rocket’s upper stage, the Orion spacecraft will use its own propulsion to set a course for the Moon. The spacecraft will then coast for several days toward the Moon, with the crew monitoring systems and conducting planned exercises. These steps mark the major phases of the Artemis II flight:

 

  • Liftoff and Earth’s orbit: The Space Launch System rocket will ignite its engines and boosters to lift Orion off the pad. Within about 10 minutes, the solid boosters will drop away and Orion will reach a parking orbit around Earth. The astronauts will ensure their systems are working normally during this climb into orbit.

  • Orbit Raising Burns: Once in initial orbit, a powerful second stage (ICPS) will fire its engine twice to stretch Orion’s orbit. First it will raise the low point of the orbit a little higher. A bit later it will raise the high point much farther out. These burns prepare Orion’s path so that it can escape Earth’s gravity on the next burn.

  • Translunar Injection: After those orbit adjustments and checks (roughly 42 hours after launch), Orion will separate from the upper stage rocket. Then Orion’s own engine (in the service module) will fire for about ten minutes to send the spacecraft toward the Moon. This “translunar injection” burn pushes Orion out of Earth orbit onto a trajectory to intersect the Moon’s path.

  • Coasting to the Moon: Orion will coast away from Earth for about four days. During this coast, the crew will keep Orion pointed correctly, do trajectory checks, and possibly make small course corrections if needed. They will also run experiments and the training exercises mentioned above during this time.

  • Lunar Flyby: About four days after launch, Orion will arrive near the Moon. The spacecraft will swing around the far side of the Moon (out of radio contact with Earth) and then back around. It will travel roughly 8,800 kilometers beyond the Moon’s surface before lunar gravity bends its path back toward Earth. This flyby is the apex of the mission: the crew will see the far side of the Moon up close for the first time in decades.

  • Return to Earth: After the flyby, Orion will head home on the free return trajectory. No major engine burn is needed here because the course is already set. The service module will carry Orion most of the way; shortly before reentry, the spacecraft will drop the service module and adapter. The crew will climb into the conical crew module alone for the descent.

  • Reentry and Splashdown: Orion’s crew module will reenter Earth’s atmosphere at very high speed (about 11 kilometers per second). Its heat shield – the largest ever flown – will bear the brunt of this heating. In the final minutes, Orion will deploy parachutes to slow its fall. The capsule will splash down in the Pacific Ocean. A U.S. Navy ship will recover the astronauts and the spacecraft, bringing the crew safely home.

 

 

After splashdown, the astronauts will undergo medical checks and begin debriefing. Engineers will analyze all flight data to see how the spacecraft behaved. This detailed review will confirm Orion’s readiness for future missions.

The Artemis II Crew

 

The Artemis II crew is made up of four experienced astronauts: NASA Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. Each will play an important role in flying Orion and carrying out mission tasks. They have backgrounds ranging from naval aviators to scientists, and all have trained together to prepare for deep space. Below is a brief profile of each

crew member:

 

  • Reid Wiseman (Commander): Wiseman is a U.S. Navy aviator and engineer who was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2009. He has flown in space before – from 2014 to 2015 he spent 165 days on the International Space Station (Expedition 41), working on experiments and station systems. As the commander of Artemis II, Wiseman will lead the mission and help make critical decisions. His calm leadership and experience in space are key assets as the crew carries out this new type of mission.

  • Victor Glover (Pilot): Glover is a Naval aviator and test pilot, picked for NASA’s astronaut team in 2013. He was the pilot on SpaceX’s Crew-1 mission in 2020, the first fully operational Crew Dragon flight to the ISS. On Artemis II he will serve as the Orion pilot, helping to fly the spacecraft and navigate in space. Glover’s NASA flight made him the first African American astronaut to spend time in orbit on a long-duration mission; on Artemis II he will become the first African American to travel so far from Earth (beyond lunar orbit). His skills in flying new spacecraft are crucial for the mission.

  • Christina Koch (Mission Specialist): Koch is an engineer and physicist who was selected as an astronaut in 2013. She was part of an all-female launch crew for her first flight and then spent 328 days in space on the ISS in 2019–2020 (an American single-mission record). During that mission she participated in the first all-female spacewalk. On Artemis II, Koch will be a mission specialist responsible for operating science equipment and supporting Orion’s systems. She brings a wealth of experience in long-duration spaceflight and engineering.

  • Jeremy Hansen (Mission Specialist): Hansen is a Canadian Air Force fighter pilot chosen as a CSA astronaut in 2009. He has not flown in space yet, but he has worked extensively on astronaut training and mission planning. Hansen managed training schedules and advised on space policy for the Canadian government. As part of Artemis II, he will be the mission specialist representing Canada. He will become the first Canadian – and the first person of color from Canada – to travel beyond low Earth orbit. His leadership skills and training expertise help the crew stay organized and safe.

 

These four crew members represent a diverse team of leaders, engineers, and pilots. They have trained together for many months, practicing launch procedures, docking drills, and emergency scenarios. In their blue flight suits and the patches of their agencies, they stand ready to carry out this historic mission. Throughout the flight, they will work as a cohesive team: sharing shifts to monitor systems, supporting each other during demanding tasks, and communicating continuously with Mission Control back on Earth.

 

 

Beyond Artemis II: The Next Steps in the Artemis Journey

 

Artemis II is a critical stepping stone, but it is not the end of the story. In the years to come, NASA’s Artemis program will push even further. The next mission, Artemis III (planned for around 2026), will be the first crewed landing on the Moon in the 21st century. It will send four astronauts to lunar orbit; then two of them will board a new lunar lander (currently being built by a commercial partner) and descend to the Moon’s surface near the south pole. There they will conduct science and demonstrate technologies for living off Earth – for example, collecting samples of lunar ice and testing how lunar gravity affects habitats. Artemis III will make history by landing the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon.

 

Following that, Artemis IV (around 2028) will focus on building and supplying the Gateway space station in lunar orbit. Future missions (Artemis V and VI, etc.) will continue to expand infrastructure: putting more crew on the Moon’s surface, deploying robotic bases, and assembling large habitats. NASA plans to create a sustainable presence – perhaps a “Moon base” or outpost in the coming decade. This will involve using lunar resources (like ice) to produce fuel and oxygen, and conducting months-long stays on the Moon. Artemis astronauts will test new spacesuits and vehicles for surface exploration, and bring back more knowledge about how to thrive on another world.

 

Each Artemis mission also advances NASA’s ultimate goal: sending humans to Mars. The Moon serves as a practice field. By mastering deep-space navigation, radiation protection, life support, and surface operations around Earth’s nearest neighbor, NASA prepares astronauts for the longer journey to Mars. The data gathered by Orion on Artemis flights – about radiation levels, spacecraft performance, and human health – will feed directly into plans for Mars trips.

 

The Artemis program is a global and commercial endeavor. Companies like SpaceX and others are building new hardware (Starship landers, new spacesuits, commercial rockets). International partners are contributing modules, instruments, and astronauts. The learning from Artemis II’s 10-day voyage will help make all of this work smoothly.

 

In the end, Artemis II is a blend of old and new. It is like the 1968 Apollo 8 mission – humans sailing around the Moon – but with cutting-edge technology and a cooperative spirit. The astronauts of Artemis II will carry memories of Apollo, but they are the start of a new generation of lunar explorers. When Orion splashes down at mission’s end, engineers and scientists will see if all systems held up under real conditions, and the world will celebrate as we take one more giant leap in space exploration. The success of Artemis II will show what we can achieve when vision, engineering, and teamwork come together, setting the stage for the next brave steps on the Moon and beyond.