At a Glance
- Artemis II will launch a crewed lunar orbit in 2026.
- Four astronauts will orbit the Moon for ~10 days.
- Mission tests NASA’s Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft.
- Why it matters: It marks the first crewed lunar flight in 50+ years and tests tech for future Moon and Mars missions.
NASA is preparing to send a crew of four astronauts on a 10-day lunar orbit as part of the Artemis II mission, slated to launch between February and April 2026. The flight will be the first time the Space Launch System rocket and Orion capsule carry humans, testing systems that will be critical for future lunar landings.
Mission Overview
The launch window for Artemis II opens in early 2026, with the crew-NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen-scheduled to depart from Launch Complex 39B. The mission will orbit the Moon for roughly ten days, performing a series of tests in Earth orbit, lunar orbit, and docking maneuvers before returning to Earth.
- Test the Space Launch System rocket performance with crew aboard.
- Verify Orion life-support systems in deep-space conditions.
- Practice docking and rendezvous with the lunar module in orbit.
Political and Scientific Context
President Donald Trump first launched the Artemis program in 2019, and the current administration has renewed focus on outpacing China’s lunar ambitions, which aim to land astronauts by 2030. NASA’s new administrator, Jared Isaacman, emphasized the program’s urgency in an interview with News Of Los Angeles.
Jared Isaacman (interviewed by News Of Los Angeles) stated:
> “Within the next three years, we are going to land American astronauts again on the moon, but this time with the infrastructure to stay,”
Lunar scientists like Brett Denevi of Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory point to the scientific gains from returning to the Moon, noting that the lunar surface preserves records of the early Solar System that are erased on Earth.
Brett Denevi stated:
> “As you can imagine, lunar scientists have had a lot of pent up questions for decades.”
Casey Dreier, chief of space policy for The Planetary Society, warned that while Artemis II is a major step, the stakes are high if the mission fails.
Casey Dreier stated:
> “There’s a lot riding on this, both good and bad. Everything seems to be coming together, but this is the first time with humans on this rocket, and we’ve never tested this life-support system in space before.”
| Mission | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Artemis I | 2022 | Uncrewed test flight |
| Artemis II | 2026 | Planned crewed lunar orbit |
| Artemis III | 2027 | Planned landing near south pole |
Artemis II is intended to pave the way for Artemis III in 2027, which aims to land four astronauts near the Moon’s south pole-a region rich in water ice and critical for future long-duration stays.
Key Takeaways
- Artemis II will launch a crewed lunar orbit in 2026.
- The mission tests the Space Launch System rocket and Orion capsule.
- The flight sets the stage for a 2027 lunar landing near the south pole.
With Artemis II on the horizon, NASA is poised to make the first crewed lunar orbit in more than half a century, bringing humanity closer to a sustained presence on the Moon and beyond.
