Samuel Clifford

1/17/2026

Artemis II is NASA’s first crewed lunar flyby mission in over fifty years, marking the next major step in America’s return to deep‑space exploration. This 10‑day mission will send four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft on a journey around the Moon, testing critical systems needed for future lunar landings and long‑duration missions. As the second mission in the Artemis program—and the first to carry humans—it represents a pivotal milestone in establishing a long‑term human presence beyond Earth.

The Artemis II crew consists of four highly accomplished astronauts: Reid Wiseman (Commander), Victor Glover (Pilot), Christina Koch (Mission Specialist), and Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency (Mission Specialist). Wiseman is a former Chief of NASA’s Astronaut Office, bringing extensive leadership and flight experience. Glover previously served as pilot on SpaceX Crew‑1 and has logged significant time aboard the ISS. Koch holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman and participated in the first all‑female spacewalk. Hansen, a former fighter pilot and CSA astronaut, represents Canada’s first astronaut to fly to the Moon. Together, they form a diverse, highly trained team prepared for deep‑space operations. 

Artemis II is fundamentally a scientific mission, designed to validate life‑support systems, navigation, communication, and propulsion technologies under real deep‑space conditions. These tests are essential before NASA attempts a lunar landing on Artemis III. Since Artemis II travels beyond Earth’s magnetosphere, the crew will also collect valuable data on deep-space radiation exposure and its physiological effects. However, the mission also carries political significance: it demonstrates U.S. leadership in space exploration, strengthens international partnerships (notably with Canada), and signals long‑term commitment to lunar and Mars exploration. NASA’s collaboration with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and Canada’s contribution via Hansen and various technology partnerships (like radiation monitoring) reflects broader international cooperation. In this way, Artemis II blends scientific advancement with geopolitical messaging, much like the Apollo missions before it.

Although NASA successfully landed astronauts on the Moon during the Apollo program, the technology, mission architecture, and long‑term goals of Artemis are fundamentally different. Apollo missions used hardware designed for short, one‑off visits, while Artemis aims to establish a sustainable human presence on and around the Moon. Because of this shift, NASA must thoroughly test modern systems—such as the Orion spacecraft, the Space Launch System, and new life‑support technologies—under real deep‑space conditions. Artemis II provides the essential step of verifying that astronauts can safely travel to lunar distance using today’s equipment before attempting a landing with Artemis III. In other words, NASA isn’t repeating Apollo; it’s proving an entirely new generation of spacecraft and procedures built for long‑duration exploration.

Artemis II will launch atop NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) Block 1, a 322‑foot‑tall heavy‑lift rocket capable of sending humans farther into space than any vehicle before it. The SLS provides the thrust needed to push Orion out of Earth orbit and toward the Moon. Orion itself—powered by the European Service Module—handles navigation, life support, and propulsion during the mission. After looping around the Moon and reaching distances up to 10,300 km beyond the lunar far side, Orion will return to Earth. The spacecraft will re‑enter Earth’s atmosphere at high speed, protected by its heat shield, and splash down in the Pacific Ocean, where the U.S. Navy will recover the crew.

Artemis II is more than a test flight—it is the symbolic and technical bridge between Earth and humanity’s future on the Moon. By proving that astronauts can safely travel to and from lunar space using the SLS and Orion systems, NASA is laying the groundwork for sustainable lunar exploration and, eventually, missions to Mars. With a skilled crew, cutting‑edge technology, and global cooperation, Artemis II marks the beginning of a new era in human spaceflight.

Sources

NASA. “Artemis II.” NASA, https://www.nasa.gov/artemis-2/. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.

“Artemis II.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis_2. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.

Bergin, Chris. “Artemis II Set to Roll Out to LC‑39B.” NASASpaceFlight, https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.

Canadian Space Agency. Jeremy Hansen. Canadian Space Agency, Astronaut Jeremy Hansen's biography | Canadian Space Agency Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.

European Space Agency. The European Service Module for Orion. European Space Agency, www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Orion. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.