NASA is poised to send humans to the Moon for the first time in over five decades. The Artemis II mission represents humanity’s first lunar flight since 1972, echoing the spirit of the Apollo program.

Artemis II: A Lunar Flyby

The mission will send four astronauts on a lunar fly-around, propelling them several thousand miles beyond the Moon before executing a U-turn and returning to Earth. This initial flight will last less than 10 days and will not include a landing or moonwalk.

The Diverse Crew

The Artemis II crew comprises a diverse and international team: Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen. Reid Wiseman, a retired Navy captain, will command the mission. Christina Koch already holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman, with 328 days aboard the International Space Station, including the first all-female spacewalk. Victor Glover was the first Black astronaut to live and work on the space station. Jeremy Hansen, representing the Canadian Space Agency, is the only spaceflight rookie on the crew. The astronauts range in age from 47 to 50.

New Rocket, Familiar Fuel

The mission will utilize NASA’s new Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, standing at 322 feet tall. While shorter than the Saturn V rocket used during the Apollo program, the SLS is more powerful at liftoff. The rocket employs liquid hydrogen fuel, similar to the Space Shuttle program, but has faced challenges with hydrogen leaks.

Mission Timeline and Trajectory

Following liftoff, the astronauts will orbit Earth for 25 hours, practicing docking maneuvers with the separated upper stage of the rocket. Orion’s main engine will then propel the crew towards the Moon, approximately 244,000 miles away. The mission will utilize a free-return trajectory, leveraging the gravity of the Earth and Moon to minimize fuel consumption.

On flight day six, Orion will reach its farthest point from Earth, sailing 5,000 miles beyond the Moon, surpassing the distance record set by Apollo 13. The crew anticipates observing and photographing previously unseen regions of the lunar far side, with the Moon appearing the size of a basketball at arm’s length.

Return to Earth and Heat Shield Concerns

The Artemis II mission is scheduled to conclude with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean nine days, one hour, and 46 minutes after liftoff. A key concern is the performance of Orion’s heat shield during reentry, which sustained damage during a 2022 test flight. NASA is mitigating this risk by shortening the capsule’s atmospheric descent. Navy recovery ships will be stationed off the coast of San Diego to retrieve the crew.

NASA geologist Kelsey Young will monitor the flyby from Mission Control, emphasizing the unifying power of lunar exploration. Administrator Jared Isaacman has also equipped the crew with smartphones to capture inspiring images during the mission.