NASA’s Artemis II mission is set to fly Artemis astronauts into history. It will propel four astronauts deeper into space than any humans have ventured before. Get ready for an awesome adventure ahead! Planned to last approximately 10 days, it will mark the first crewed flight of the Space Launch System (SLS) heavy lift rocket and the Orion spacecraft. NASA is still considering a few possible launch dates in early 2024. They are looking at February 6, 7, 8, 10, and 11; March 6, 7, 8, 9, and 11; and April 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
They’ll be living in close quarters—roughly nine cubic meters of space—alongside their Orion spacecraft. The crew module of Orion is surprisingly huge, comprising fully half the spacecraft’s length. On the other hand, the service module is almost as large as the crew module. This historic mission represents a giant leap forward for human spaceflight. It’s a vital test of Orion’s power while in orbit.
The Artemis II astronauts will launch aboard the massive SLS rocket, which is a staggering 98 meters (320 feet) tall. Each step in their journey, they’ll be evaluating the performance of the Orion spacecraft. The mission as a whole will feature an outbound lunar flyby before continuing on to a rich accessibility point thousands of kilometers past the Moon. Throughout this initial 21-day phase, the astronauts will test Orion’s life-support, propulsion, power, and navigation systems.
After completing their time aboard the ISS, astronauts will return through a rough re-entry to land back here on Earth. They’re expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of the United States. In many ways, this return will be a homecoming for the crew. Most importantly though, it will be a historic launch for NASA as it takes human exploration beyond low Earth orbit into deep space.
To help ensure a successful launch, NASA plans to conduct a wet dress rehearsal toward the end of January. This crucial preparatory move will ensure all systems are checked and bond before the lofty aims of Artemis II are even attempted.