For the first time in more than 50 years, NASA is sending a crew of astronauts into orbit around the Moon as part of the Artemis II mission, which is now officially scheduled for launch in 2026.
The mission, a cornerstone of the broader Artemis program, will include three American astronauts and one Canadian, marking the first crewed lunar orbit since the Apollo era. While Artemis II does not include a lunar landing, it lays the groundwork for Artemis III, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface within this decade. Originally scheduled for 2024, Artemis II has faced several delays but is now targeting a launch window between February and April 2026. NASA officials reaffirmed their commitment to that timeline during a recent press conference, emphasizing that safety remains the top priority.
NASA aims to accelerate progress in competition with China, which is planning to land its astronauts on the Moon by 2030.
Both the United States and China plan to establish permanent bases on the Moon. The Artemis II crew includes Christina Hammock Koch, Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, all of whom are expected to make history with this mission. Koch and Glover will also become the first woman and the first person of color, respectively, to participate in such a mission to the Moon.
Artemis II will test all the critical systems needed for the next phase: safely landing humans on the lunar surface. The mission will use NASA's powerful Space Launch System rocket and Orion capsule, both of which were successfully tested during the uncrewed Artemis I flight.
Source: NASA
