News: The mission is in the news because NASA announced Artemis II is in final preparation stages with launch windows beginning February 2026.
About Artemis II Mission
- Artemis II is the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis programme to send humans to the vicinity of the Moon since 1972.
- Aim: The mission aims to test the Space Launch System rocket and the Orion spacecraft for safety of life-support and navigation systems.
- Launch Date: The earliest targeted launch date is February 6, 2026, with identified launch windows across February, March, and April 2026.
- Mission Type: Artemis II is a crewed lunar flyby mission and will not include a lunar landing.
- Significance: Artemis II is a critical test flight, and its success will allow NASA to proceed with Artemis III.
About NASA’s Artemis Program
- The Artemis program is a Moon exploration program led by NASA, established in 2017, to re-establish human presence on the Moon and support future Mars missions.
- Artemis I to Artemis IV
- Artemis I: It was an uncrewed test mission in 2022 that successfully tested SLS and Orion in lunar orbit.
- Artemis II: It will conduct the first crewed test flight of SLS and Orion around the Moon.
- Artemis III: It will send humans to explore the region near the lunar South Pole.
- Artemis IV: It will introduce the first lunar space station and a more powerful SLS rocket.
