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NASA sets February window for first crewed Moon flight in 50 years
The U.S. space agency is preparing to launch Artemis II as early as 6 February, marking the first human voyage to lunar vicinity since the Apollo era. The mission aims to pave the way for a future Moon landing.
Mission timeline and objectives
Artemis II is scheduled to last approximately 10 days, with a launch window extending through April. NASA will finalize the exact date only after completing final safety checks on the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, the Orion crew capsule, and ground support systems.
The four-person crew will travel farther into space than any humans before, testing Orion's systems in Earth orbit before venturing thousands of kilometers beyond the Moon. Key tasks include manual flight maneuvers, life-support evaluations, and radiation monitoring.
Crew and spacecraft details
The mission will be commanded by NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, with Victor Glover as pilot and Christina Koch as mission specialist. Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen will serve as the second mission specialist.
This will be the first crewed flight for both the SLS rocket and the Orion spacecraft. The crew will live in a compact cabin under weightless conditions, with radiation levels higher than those on the International Space Station but within safe limits.
Return and future plans
The mission will conclude with a high-speed re-entry and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the U.S. West Coast. While Artemis II will not land on the Moon, it sets the stage for Artemis III, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface no earlier than 2027-though experts suggest 2028 is more realistic.
NASA has yet to select the lunar lander for Artemis III, with SpaceX's Starship and Blue Origin's craft under consideration. New spacesuits developed by Axiom are also still in development.
Global lunar ambitions
Artemis represents a shift from the Apollo program's Cold War-era goals, focusing instead on sustained lunar exploration through international and commercial partnerships. Future missions will include building the Gateway lunar space station and deploying robotic rovers.
Other nations are advancing their own Moon programs. China aims for a crewed landing near the lunar south pole by 2030, while India has set a 2040 target following its recent Chandrayaan-3 success. Japan and European astronauts are also slated to join later Artemis missions.
Historical context
The last crewed Moon mission, Apollo 17, concluded in December 1972. Since then, 24 astronauts have traveled to the Moon, with 12 walking on its surface-all during the Apollo program.
