Artemis II: Humanity Returns to the Moon After 50 Years
NASA is preparing to resume human spaceflight beyond Earth orbit after more than half a century, marking a historic return to the Moon with the Artemis II mission. The launch is currently planned for early February, signaling a major milestone in modern space exploration.
The approximately 10-day Artemis II mission will send astronauts beyond the Moon, carrying humans farther into space than ever before. While no lunar landing is planned, the mission will serve as a crucial test for future crewed landings on the Moon.
NASA’s massive Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft are expected to roll out from the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center starting January 17. The 6.5-kilometer journey to the launch pad will take around 12 hours using crawler transporters, after which critical electrical, fueling, and environmental systems will be connected.
By late January, NASA plans to conduct a final wet dress rehearsal, fully fueling the rocket ahead of launch. If no technical issues arise, the earliest possible launch date is set for February 6.
The four-member Artemis II crew consists of mission commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. This mission will mark the first crewed flight of both the SLS rocket and the Orion spacecraft.
Astronauts will perform manual flight tests in Earth orbit before traveling thousands of kilometers beyond the Moon to evaluate life support, power, and navigation systems. The crew will also collect extensive medical data to study the effects of deep space on the human body.
The mission will conclude with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of the United States.
No lunar landing on Artemis II
Artemis II does not include a Moon landing. That milestone is planned for Artemis III, which NASA says is unlikely to occur before 2027, with experts viewing 2028 as the earliest realistic target.
The lunar landing system will likely involve SpaceX’s Starship or an alternative vehicle developed by Blue Origin. New-generation space suits are also still under development and not yet flight-ready.
Future missions will focus on establishing the Gateway space station in lunar orbit, serving as a staging point for repeated Moon landings. Additional missions will deploy robotic vehicles, surface modules, and longer-duration human operations on the Moon.
Humanity’s last journey to the Moon took place in December 1972 with Apollo 17. During the Apollo era, 24 astronauts traveled to the Moon, and 12 walked on its surface. With the Artemis program, NASA aims to build a long-term and sustainable human presence on the Moon, powered by commercial partnerships and next-generation technology.
