The Artemis II mission promises to be a breakthrough in next-generation space exploration.
NASA is preparing for a historic event — the first crewed flight to the Moon in over half a century since the end of the Apollo program. The Artemis II mission promises to be a breakthrough in next-generation space exploration. A key element of the preparation is the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, which will be delivered to launch pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center.
The mission will last 10 days, during which four astronauts will test the life support systems of the Orion spacecraft, making two orbits around the Earth. In January, NASA plans to conduct a launch rehearsal, including a full cryogenic fueling and a run-through of the pre-launch procedure.
The preliminary launch date is February 6, however, the final decision will be made after all preparatory activities are completed. Agency specialists are closely monitoring every stage of the preparation.
Even before the announcement of the expedition crew, it was known that the crew of Artemis II would include an astronaut from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the first Canadian to travel beyond low Earth orbit in accordance with the 2020 agreement between the United States and Canada. Future expeditions will involve international crews, including European and Asian astronauts.
On April 3, 2023, NASA announced the names of the crew: Gregory Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch (all from the USA), and Jeremy Hansen (Canada).
The Orion spacecraft will spend about 10 days in space.
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