After more than 50 years, NASA is getting ready to send humans around the Moon again, and this time, it’s with the Artemis II mission. Think of it as a full dress rehearsal for landing people on the Moon in the future. If all goes well, the mission will take off as early as April 1, 6:24 PM EDT or 3:54 AM IST. Artemis II will be the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis Program. Four astronauts will be onboard the Orion spacecraft for this historic journey around the Moon and back to Earth.
Note: You can watch the launch live on NASA+, YouTube, or even Netflix, which is providing a special 4K stream of the event. Coverage starts early Wednesday morning with the “Wet Dress” and fueling procedures. 10 things you need to know before Wednesday’s historic launch 1. Artemis II will carry humans around the Moon again Artemis II will be the first crewed lunar mission since 1972, when the Apollo era ended. Instead of landing, astronauts will fly around the Moon and return safely to Earth. It marks humanity’s return to deep-space travel beyond low-Earth orbit. 2. A high-speed splashdown Returning home is the hardest part. The Orion capsule will hit Earth’s atmosphere at 40,000 km/h (25,000 mph). The heat shield will have to withstand temperatures of nearly 2,800°C (5,000°F) before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean around April 10th. 3. The mission will last about 10 days Astronauts will spend roughly 10 days in space, including: They will travel thousands of kilometers beyond the Moon before heading back. 4. Four astronauts will be onboard The Artemis II crew includes: This mission will make history with the first woman and first non-American astronaut traveling to the Moon’s vicinity. 5. The powerful space launch system rocket will be used Astronauts will travel aboard the massive Space Launch System (SLS) rocket the most powerful rocket ever built by NASA. It produces more thrust than the Saturn V rocket used during the Apollo missions. 6. Orion spacecraft will carry the crew The astronauts will live and travel inside the Orion spacecraft, designed for deep-space missions. Orion includes: It is built specifically for missions beyond Earth orbit. 7. The mission will not land on the Moon Unlike future Artemis missions, Artemis II will not attempt a lunar landing. Instead, it will test: These tests are essential before landing astronauts on the Moon again. 8. The crew will travel on a “Free-Return” path The spacecraft will follow a free-return trajectory, meaning Earth’s gravity naturally pulls it back home even if systems fail. This makes the mission safer for astronauts traveling deep into space. 9. Artemis II is a step toward permanent lunar exploration NASA’s long-term Artemis goals include: Artemis II is the bridge between testing spacecraft and landing humans again. 10. It marks the start of a new space exploration era More than just another mission, Artemis II represents the beginning of a new chapter in human spaceflight. It will:
