With NASA’s Artemis II mission set to launch within the next few months, we stand on the edges of a new era in space exploration. This mission, scheduled to last ten days in total, marks many new discoveries. It will be the inaugural crewed flight of the Space Launch System (SLS) and the Orion spacecraft. It’s their ticket to go further into space than any human has gone before. They’ll dive into an experience that pushes the boundaries of what humans can do in deep space.
One major goal of the Artemis II mission is to put the Orion spacecraft through its paces and test how well it performs. During the mission, astronauts will test key systems, from life support to propulsion, power and navigation. This last phase of testing is critical to all future lunar missions to ensure their safety, success and effectiveness.
One of the more fascinating aspects of Artemis II, though, is the astronauts’ unique opportunity to take control of the Orion capsule. Specifically, they can handfly it while in an Earth orbit. This testing and practice will hone their precision in maneuvering and guiding the craft in future landings on the moon. These skills are important for NASA’s greater ambitions in lunar exploration.
The Artemis II crew will include four astronauts. One of those astronauts is already known—Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency—who will be paired with three other, as-yet-undertaken astronauts. They’ll mainly be jumping around a long, figure-of-eight orbital trajectory around the Moon. This will provide them with vital experience and data in preparation for future crewed lunar missions.
The mission will end with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. When the astronauts make their return, they will need to prepare for a rocky transit through Earth’s atmosphere. Even that turbulence is normal, just part of the experience of re-entry from deep space. Once they’re on their way aboard Orion, these astronauts will be squeezed into roughly nine cubic meters of maxed-out equipment. This space will hold them as they disorient, interrogate, and reimagine.
The upcoming Artemis II mission is a historic and essential leap forward in human spaceflight. It equally is the key to building Gateway, a small space station that will orbit the Moon. This lunar outpost will serve as a key gateway for the broader exploration that lies ahead. It will hands-on engage with missions to Mars and farther out. Artemis IV and V are the first missions that should start construction on Gateway. This would help to reinforce NASA’s commitment to sustainable, long-term lunar exploration.
European astronauts will take a more active role in the upcoming Artemis missions. Beyond that, Japan is guaranteed seats for its own astronauts. This international collaboration underscores the global interest in lunar exploration and the shared goal of advancing human presence in space.