First Moon mission in 50 years is in works
NASA is aiming for early March to launch its Artemis II mission, sending four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon, marking the first human trip beyond Earth’s orbit in over 50 years.
First Moon mission in 50 years is in works
NASA is aiming for early March to launch its Artemis II mission, sending four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon, marking the first human trip beyond Earth’s orbit in over 50 years.
The mission will prepare the way for a future lunar landing under Artemis III.
After a successful “wet dress rehearsal” at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA set March 6 as the earliest launch date. The practice tested the 98-meter-tall Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, fueling it and running through the countdown after earlier issues, including a hydrogen leak, were fixed.
The crew includes three Americans – Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch – and one Canadian, Jeremy Hansen. They will live and work inside the Orion capsule, about the size of a minibus, for the entire mission. The first day will be spent orbiting Earth, followed by a four-day journey around the Moon’s far side. After studying and photographing the lunar surface, the astronauts will return to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean after four days.
If successful, Artemis II will pave the way for Artemis III, when astronauts are expected to land on the Moon by 2028. SpaceX is building the lunar lander, though NASA has requested a faster plan due to delays. China is also aiming for a Moon landing by 2030, adding international competition for lunar exploration.
