Summary
NASA is preparing for the Artemis II mission, which will be the first crewed Moon mission in over 50 years. The mission involves a 10-day space flight taking astronauts further into space than ever before. The crew will test the Orion spacecraft and prepare for future Moon landings.
Key Facts
- The Artemis II mission could launch in early February, with initial dates starting on February 6.
- NASA will use the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion Space Capsule for this mission.
- The mission lasts about 10 days and involves flying thousands of kilometers beyond the Moon.
- The crew includes Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch from NASA, and Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency.
- The astronauts will test Orion's systems, focusing on life-support, propulsion, power, and navigation.
- The mission will gather data on living conditions in space, including radiation levels.
- Artemis II aims to pave the way for an eventual lunar landing with Artemis III, which could happen by 2028.
- The Artemis III mission aims for a sustained human presence on the Moon.
