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Artemis II: Humans Circle Moon Again!
1 Apr
Summary
- Artemis II mission launched Wednesday at 6:24 p.m. Eastern time.
- Four astronauts will journey around the moon for 10 days.
- This mission tests critical systems for future lunar surface landings.
On Wednesday at 6:24 p.m. Eastern time, the Artemis II mission began its launch from Florida's Kennedy Space Center. A crew of four astronauts, comprising three Americans and one Canadian, have commenced a 10-day journey. This voyage will take them around the moon and back to Earth.
While the astronauts will not land on the moon, remaining thousands of miles away, this mission is a crucial precursor. It aims to rigorously test the life support and various other systems within the Orion space capsule. Orion is designated as America's primary vehicle for future lunar expeditions.
NASA's ultimate objective is to land future crews on the moon's surface, with a target date as early as 2028. These subsequent landings will utilize different spacecraft, developed by companies such as SpaceX or Blue Origin. The last time humans walked on the moon was during the Apollo 17 mission in December 1972.
The Artemis program, initially conceived with the moon as its destination during President Trump's first term, has been continued by the Biden administration. Following the successful uncrewed Artemis I mission in 2022, Artemis II represents the next significant step. The current crew includes mission commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen.
