More than half a century after Apollo 17, humanity is once again embarking on crewed journeys to the Moon. The Artemis II mission was successfully launched on April 1, 2026, from the Kennedy Space Center.
On board the Orion spacecraft, four astronauts have begun a journey of approximately ten days around the Moon. The crew consists of Reid Wiseman, mission commander; Victor Glover, pilot; as well as Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, mission specialists. The mission is led by NASA, responsible for aeronautics and space research. Founded in 1958, the agency relies on international and private partnerships, notably with SpaceX and Boeing.
NASA has distinguished itself through major programs such as the Apollo program, which enabled Neil Armstrong to walk on the Moon in 1969, as well as robotic missions to Mars with the Curiosity rover and Perseverance rover. Today, with the Artemis program, it aims for a sustainable return to the Moon before considering crewed missions to Mars.
The primary objective of Artemis II is to test the Orion spacecraft’s performance under real conditions, including its life support systems, communication systems, and atmospheric reentry capability. These tests are intended to prepare the next stages of the program.
During the mission, the astronauts will perform a distant flyby of the Moon while conducting several scientific observations, including the study of a solar eclipse and deep-space navigation tests.
This mission paves the way for Artemis III, scheduled for 2028, which is expected to mark the return of astronauts to the lunar surface.
