For the first time in more than 50 years, astronauts are again headed to the moon. NASA’s Artemis II crew — Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch of NASA, and Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency — launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard an Orion capsule atop the SLS rocket. The roughly 10-day, 230,000-mile mission is a crewed test flight of Orion that will both exercise spacecraft systems and gather science to inform future lunar missions.
Trajectory and mission profile
Artemis II follows a free return trajectory: the spacecraft will travel past the moon while remaining primarily under Earth’s gravitational influence, then fall back for a Pacific Ocean splashdown. This path uses less fuel and reduces risk compared with entering lunar orbit. About a day after launch, Orion will perform a translunar injection burn to begin the trip toward the moon. The flyby will take the crew to about 5,000 miles above the lunar surface — far higher than Apollo orbital distances or landings, but providing a broad vantage point of the far side.
Testing the spacecraft
Shortly after reaching high Earth orbit and separating from the SLS upper stage, the crew ran proximity and handling tests, taking manual control to verify how Orion performs in space. Those checks confirm vehicle handling and provide human feedback on control responsiveness and thruster cues — information important for future docking maneuvers with a lunar lander. Pilot Victor Glover reported that the spacecraft “flies very nicely.”
Science and human research
The crew themselves are subjects of experiments to study physiological effects of deep-space travel and higher radiation exposure. Biological samples and cells mounted on tiny chips are distributed around the capsule to measure radiation impacts and other changes. The astronauts will also perform geological observations while passing over lunar terrain no human has seen before. Trained by geologists, they will photograph and note features to help scientists on Earth better understand the far side and to inform planning for future landings.
Small satellite payloads
Artemis II also carries CubeSats from Germany, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Argentina. These tiny satellites will deploy into high-Earth orbit to study space radiation effects on hardware, monitor space weather, and test components intended for future lunar missions.
Return and reentry
On return, Orion will reenter Earth’s atmosphere at about 25,000 mph, encountering temperatures near 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The capsule’s heat shield protects the crew; NASA modified reentry angle plans after discovering unexpected heat shield damage on the 2022 uncrewed test, opting for a steeper entry to reduce exposure time. After reentry, eight parachutes will slow the capsule before it splashes down off the California coast, with airbags helping ensure it rights correctly for recovery by a shipboard team.
Why it matters
Artemis II is a critical step toward more frequent lunar missions and an eventual permanent presence on the moon. The flight will validate life support, navigation and crew procedures needed for future Artemis missions and a planned lunar base. As mission specialist Christina Koch said, the hope is that this mission marks the start of an era when everyone can view the moon as a destination.