Get ready as NASA’s Artemis II mission prepares to make history! It’s preparing for its first crewed flight of the multi-billion-dollar Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion space capsule. The mission is scheduled for launch on March 6 and will last about 10 days. This is the first step in returning humans to the lunar surface to stay—and beyond.
The Artemis II crew comprises four astronauts: Victor Glover, Christina Koch, Jeremy Hansen, and Reid Wiseman. It’s all part of a new mission that will send these astronauts farther into space than any human has ever traveled. In addition to exploring deep space, the astronauts will serve as medical test subjects, sending back crucial data and imagery to support future missions.
Throughout the course of the flight, the crew will receive hands-on experience from manually flying the Orion capsule—initially in Earth orbit. This new practice will help them to develop their skill at maneuvering and orienting the spacecraft ahead of future Moon landings. Beyond this first phase, the mission will launch the astronauts thousands of kilometers beyond the Moon. They plan to test Orion’s life-support, propulsion, power and navigation systems during this initial crewed journey.
Artemis II will travel a different figure-of-eight orbital trajectory, as a first for NASA missions. Upon their return to Earth, the astronauts will encounter a turbulent reentry through the atmosphere before splashing down off the west coast of the United States in the Pacific Ocean.
The Artemis II launch schedule includes multiple launch windows in March and early April. This is great news and presents a number of exciting opportunities for liftoff! After Artemis II, the missions will continue to establish Gateway, a tiny space station that will circle the Moon. That’s in addition to the planned Artemis IV and V missions. Perhaps most significantly, European astronauts will be joining subsequent Artemis missions, with Japan guaranteed seats for its astronauts on future missions.
For Canada’s Jeremy Hansen, this will be his first trip to the Moon. This trip will be an extraordinary moment in his musical journey. Michigander Christina Koch became an astronaut in 2013. In 2019, she became one of the first women to leave an impression on the International Space Station. Her experience will be invaluable to the mission’s success as they prepare to launch on this innovative and historic journey.