NASA’s first crewed moon mission in more than 50 years is currently in progress. On Wednesday evening, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Victor Glover, along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, launched on a 10-day journey to orbit Earth and the Moon.

Return to Lunar Missions

“After a brief, 54-year intermission, NASA is back in the business of sending astronauts to the moon,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stated at a post-launch news briefing on Wednesday. This launch represents the first time NASA’s Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft have carried human passengers into orbit.

Mission Objectives and Initial Tests

The Artemis II flight is a crucial step towards a planned moon landing in 2028. Approximately 250,000 space enthusiasts gathered in central Florida to witness the Artemis II mission’s successful liftoff. Despite some minor issues during the countdown, they were quickly resolved, resulting in a spectacular ascent.

Early Orbit Activities

The astronauts now in space have a busy schedule ahead. For the first 8.5 hours in orbit, the crew will rigorously test the Orion capsule’s systems, including the potable water dispenser, toilet, and air quality control. They will also practice a docking procedure using the Space Launch System’s upper stage as a target.

This technology demonstration is vital for future Artemis missions, as astronauts will need to dock with a commercially built lunar lander before descending to the moon’s surface.

Journey to the Moon

On Thursday, NASA will prepare for the trans-lunar injection burn, a critical engine burn to propel the Orion capsule towards the moon. This maneuver, scheduled approximately 24 hours into the mission, will put the astronauts on an irreversible path around the moon.

“We’re looking to make sure that the life-support systems work, the vehicle’s healthy,” explained Norm Knight, director of NASA’s Flight Operations Directorate, following the launch. “Once we commit to TLI, they have to function.”

Lunar Flyby and Distance Record

If the plan proceeds as expected, the Artemis II astronauts will spend the next three days traveling to the moon. Their next significant milestone is scheduled for Monday, when they will fly around the moon.

During this flyby, they could surpass the distance record of 248,655 miles set by the Apollo 13 astronauts in 1970, venturing farther from Earth than any humans before. The astronauts will come within 4,000 to 6,000 miles of the moon’s surface, where it will appear about the size of a basketball held at arm’s length.

They will also be the first to observe parts of the lunar far side with human eyes, as this side always faces away from Earth.

Return to Earth and Future Missions

After the lunar flyby, the astronauts will spend the remaining days of the mission returning to Earth. They are scheduled to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego on April 10.

Artemis II is a key component of NASA’s broader effort to return astronauts to the moon and establish a long-term lunar presence, with the eventual goal of building a base on the moon. Next year, NASA plans to launch Artemis III, focusing on technology demonstrations in low-Earth orbit with commercially built moon landers.

SpaceX and Blue Origin are currently developing landers to transport NASA astronauts from lunar orbit to the moon’s surface, and Artemis III could test one or both. NASA aims to launch Artemis IV in 2028 to achieve a moon landing.