NASA’s Artemis II mission is set to do just that with its anticipated launch in late 2024. This mission will be the first crewed flight of the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft. Its goal is to set the stage for human landings on the Moon, an endeavor not attempted since the Apollo programs of the 1960s and 70s.
The Artemis II mission will last a little more than ten days. Four astronauts will put critical systems through their paces aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft during this exciting journey. We agree that this mission is extremely important. For the crew, it will take them further into deep space than any humans have ever traveled. Space is limited. Astronauts will be living in an exceedingly tight space of around nine cubic meters. They will be seated in two stacks of two, laid back and looking up, presenting some special concerns for their long duration in space.
As part of our mission, the crew will hand fly the Orion capsule while in orbit around the Earth. This practice will be essential for all of our future lunar landings. It ensures that astronauts can control and orient the spacecraft with accuracy and finesse. The Artemis II crew will test Orion through a series of critical scenarios. They will navigate a turbulent re-entry through the atmosphere and perform an expected splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, off the U.S. west coast.
Artemis II will be the first crewed mission to venture thousands of kilometers beyond the Moon. After that, it will test Orion’s life-support, propulsion, power and navigation systems. This rigorous testing will provide crucial information for NASA. They’ll use this information to better future missions, including Artemis III, which is expected to land astronauts on the lunar surface.
The Artemis program is about more than just exploring the Moon. It lays the groundwork for Gateway, a small lunar-influenced orbital space station. Future missions such as Artemis IV and V will further expand Gateway. This expansion will allow increasingly complex operations and eventually pave the way for new robotic rovers on the lunar surface.