The NASA mission Artemis II is set to mark humanity’s return to the Moon after more than half a century a bold leap toward establishing a long‑term presence on and around our lunar neighbour.
What is Artemis II?
Artemis II is the first crewed mission under NASA’s Artemis program. Four astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch (all from NASA) and Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency will fly aboard the Orion spacecraft, launched by the Space Launch System (SLS).
Instead of landing on the Moon, Artemis II will undertake a free‑return lunar flyby: the spacecraft will swing around the Moon and return to Earth a crucial test of systems before actual landing missions.
The mission is planned to last about 10 days.
Why Artemis II Matters
First human Moon mission in over 50 years the last was Apollo 17 in 1972.
Test of deep‑space systems and hardware: Artemis II will verify life support, navigation, communications, propulsion and other crucial spacecraft systems under real deep‑space conditions.
Foundation for future lunar and Mars missions: Success on Artemis II paves the way for a crewed Moon landing under the program’s next stage, and eventually missions to Mars.
When is Artemis II Launching?
The official target is no later than April 2026.
However if all final tests and checks proceed smoothly the launch could come as early as February 5, 2026.
As of late 2025, NASA has already stacked the Orion spacecraft atop the SLS rocket at the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center, and is now conducting final integrated tests ahead of rollout to the launch pad.
Astronauts continue training; as launch draws near, practice sessions will intensify to ensure readiness for every phase of flight and contingencies.
What Will Happen On the Mission
After liftoff from Kennedy Space Center (Launch Complex 39B), Orion will enter low Earth orbit. The SLS upper stage will then send it on a trajectory toward the Moon.
During the journey, the crew will test critical spacecraft systems life support, communications, propulsion under real space conditions.
Orion will fly around the Moon on a “free‑return” path: after the lunar flyby, it will loop back to Earth, culminating in a splashdown and recovery.
Data gathered during this missionon how human bodies cope, and how the spacecraft performs will be essential for future Moon landings and deeper missions beyond.
What Happens Next Beyond Artemis II
Artemis II is a stepping stone. The success of this mission will clear the way for the next phase: a crewed landing on the Moon under Artemis III, and eventually establishing a long‑term human presence on the Moon.
By trialing life‑support, navigation, communications and other deep‑space systems with real astronauts aboard Orion, NASA and its partners aim to build confidence for safe and sustainable lunar surface missions and lay groundwork for voyages to Mars.
Conclusion
Artemis II isn’t just another space mission it’s a milestone. For the first time in more than five decades, humans will fly around the Moon again. If all goes well, early 2026 will mark a renewed chapter in human space exploration. With Artemis II, we take a measured, tested step: proving we can live, work and return from deep space before we attempt to set foot back on the lunar surface.