Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

NASA's Artemis II: First Crewed Lunar Mission in 50 Years

9/24/2025

30 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

NASA plans Artemis II for February 2026, first crewed lunar mission in 50 years.
The flight loops around the Moon to test systems for future landings.
The crew includes Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen.
The mission travels beyond Earth orbit at least 5,000 nautical miles past Moon, with Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion preparations.

History

Historical Context

NASA's Apollo 11 mission in 1969 marked humanity's first Moon landing, with astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin taking historic steps on the lunar surface. Building on this legacy, Artemis II is set for a crewed lunar flyby in 2026, aiming to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon and pave the way for future Mars missions.

1 of 2

Story summary

NASA plans Artemis II for February 2026, first crewed lunar mission in 50 years.
The flight loops around the Moon to test systems for future landings.
The crew includes Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen.
The mission travels beyond Earth orbit at least 5,000 nautical miles past Moon, with Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion preparations.

1 / 2