NASA's Artemis II Mission: A Detailed 10-Day Lunar Flyby Plan
NASA's Artemis II mission, scheduled for February 2026, outlines a comprehensive 10-day journey around the Moon, marking the first crewed lunar mission since 1972.
NASA is preparing for the Artemis II mission, a 10-day crewed flight around the Moon and back, scheduled for February 2026. This mission aims to test the Orion spacecraft's systems in deep space, marking the first crewed lunar mission since Apollo 17 in 1972. The crew comprises NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
The mission will commence with the launch of the Orion capsule aboard the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. After reaching Earth orbit, the crew will perform system checks and a proximity operations demonstration using the spent Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage as a target.
Following these evaluations, Orion will execute a trans-lunar injection burn, setting it on a trajectory toward the Moon. The spacecraft will pass approximately 4,000 to 6,000 miles above the lunar surface, depending on the launch date. During this phase, the crew will observe and photograph the Moon's far side.
After the lunar flyby, Orion will embark on its return journey to Earth, relying on a free-return trajectory that utilizes the Earth-Moon gravity field. The mission will conclude with Orion's re-entry into Earth's atmosphere and a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, where recovery teams will retrieve the crew and capsule.
Artemis II serves as a critical step in NASA's Artemis program, aiming to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon and prepare for future missions to Mars.