NASA’s new Artemis II mission will soon send astronauts farther into space than any humans have gone before. The mission is currently scheduled to launch in early 2024. It will be a ten-day mission and will be the first crewed flight of the Space Launch System (SLS) and the Orion spacecraft. This mission is a historic step forward in human space exploration. It aims to test key systems that will be vital for long-duration lunar missions to come.
The Artemis II crew will include four astronauts, including a varied mix of expertise and backgrounds. As they prepare for their historic journey, they will occupy the Orion spacecraft, which comprises two main sections: the crew module and the service module. The crew module occupies just under half of the current spacecraft’s overall length. Flip it over and the service module is roughly the same size as the crew module. These modules constitute just a minute fraction of the awe-inspiring 98-meter (320-foot) SLS rocket. Will this massive rocket take the next generation of explorers to Mars?
On Crew-7’s mission, the four astronauts will fly with their backs horizontal in two rows of two. They’ll be lying supine, or back against the earth. Mission-style patches and flags will adorn them. They’ll wear the flags of the United States and Canada on their arms and chests with pride. This beautiful visualization is a testament to the hard work and cooperation between countries that have brought us this far in space exploration.
Potential launch dates for the Artemis II mission. NASA has identified a number of potential launch dates. They have such dates as February 6, 7, 8, 10 and 11, March 6, 7, 8, 9 and 11, and April 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6. These dates provide ample flexibility for preparation and will guarantee that conditions are favorable for the mission.
Once it launches, the Orion spacecraft will perform a lunar flyby, a key step in NASA’s Artemis program, returning humans to the Moon. The mission will extensively test Orion’s life-support systems, propulsion capabilities, power management and navigation systems. That’s where this rigorous evaluation comes into play. First, it helps establish a safe and sustainable return to crewed missions to the Moon and eventually Mars.
At around nine cubic meters of habitable space, astronauts will be living in relatively tight quarters throughout their ten-day mission. This narrow space will test their flexibility more than ever as they strive to collaboratively accomplish a slew of goals—all while ensuring their health and safety. The way the mission is designed will help replicate the environment that they will inevitably encounter during longer voyages in deep space.
As they near the end of their trip, astronauts have to be ready for a tumultuous re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. We’ve been flying in very rough and choppy atmospheric conditions during this part of the mission. Shortly thereafter, we’ll splash down in the Pacific Ocean, off the west coast of the United States. Through this return, we’ve seen the remarkable performance of the Orion spacecraft on display. Beyond that, it provides immensely valuable lessons about re-entry procedures for subsequent missions.
The Artemis II mission will be such a huge milestone. It moves us one step closer to actually returning humans to the Moon for the first time since Apollo 17 in December 1972. The last crewed lunar landing until today that historic mission. This time, though, NASA is serious about creating a lasting human presence on and around the Moon.
