NASA's Artemis II Mission: A Historic Journey Around the Moon Set for February

NASA is preparing for the Artemis II mission, scheduled for February 6, which will send a crew of four astronauts on a groundbreaking journey around the Moon. This mission marks a significant milestone in human space exploration, following the Apollo missions. The Artemis II team will test critical systems aboard the Orion spacecraft, setting the stage for future lunar landings and missions to Mars. With a focus on establishing a sustainable presence on the Moon, this mission is a pivotal step in advancing space exploration. Read on to discover more about the mission's objectives and preparations.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 20, 2026, 15:26 IST

NASA Prepares for Groundbreaking Lunar Mission

New Delhi: Marking half a century since the Apollo 17 mission in December 1972, NASA is gearing up to launch a crew of four astronauts on a lunar orbit mission scheduled for February 6.

The Artemis II team comprises NASA commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialists Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency.

In preparation for the mission, NASA has transported the Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket to the launch pad located in Cape Canaveral, Florida, this past Sunday.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stated, "Artemis II will be a significant advancement for human space exploration. This historic mission will take humans farther from Earth than ever before and provide crucial insights for our return to the Moon, with America leading the way."

He further emphasized that Artemis II is a step towards establishing a sustainable lunar presence and paving the way for future missions to Mars.

This 10-day mission will lay the groundwork for Artemis III, which is planned for 2027, aiming to land humans on the lunar South Pole and establish a long-term presence there.

According to NASA, the Artemis initiative aims to return humans to the Moon for economic advantages, scientific exploration, and to prepare for crewed missions to Mars.

In August 2022, NASA successfully conducted Artemis I, the first integrated flight test of its Deep Space Exploration Systems, which included the Orion spacecraft and SLS rocket.

With Artemis II, NASA intends to rigorously evaluate the Orion spacecraft and its deep-space exploration systems under real conditions, although the spacecraft will not land on the Moon.

The four astronauts will launch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, initially orbiting Earth to verify life support and other essential systems.

While still in Earth's vicinity, the crew will evaluate the performance of the life support systems that generate breathable air.

Utilizing the Moon's gravitational pull, the astronauts will execute a trans-lunar injection burn, where the Orion's service module will provide the necessary thrust for a four-day outbound journey around the far side of the Moon, following a figure-eight trajectory.

The mission will take the astronauts over 230,000 miles from Earth at its furthest point, following a free-return path that allows them to coast back to Earth without additional engine burns.

The flight will conclude with a high-speed atmospheric reentry and a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

In the upcoming days, engineers and technicians will prepare the Artemis II rocket for a wet dress rehearsal, which involves testing fueling operations and countdown procedures.

The team will load the rocket with cryogenic propellants, conduct a countdown simulation, and practice safely draining the propellants from the rocket—critical steps before the first crewed Artemis mission, expected by February 2.