Summary
NASA is preparing for the Artemis II mission, which aims to send astronauts around the Moon, marking the first time since the Apollo missions. The mission involves a rocket at the Kennedy Space Center, which will carry three American astronauts and one Canadian astronaut. It is a key step toward future lunar exploration, including plans for a Moon landing with Artemis IV in 2028.
Key Facts
- Artemis II will send astronauts around the Moon for the first time since the Apollo era.
- The mission involves a 322-foot-tall rocket at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
- The crew consists of three Americans and one Canadian.
- Victor Glover and Christina Koch will be the first person of color and the first woman beyond low Earth orbit, respectively.
- Jeremy Hansen from Canada will be the first non-American to go beyond low Earth orbit.
- The launch window opens at 6:24 p.m. ET on Wednesday, with a backup opportunity on Thursday.
- The mission will use NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft.
- NASA targets a Moon landing for Artemis IV in 2028 after testing lunar landers with Artemis III.
