space
Artemis II mission launched for its 10-day lunar orbit journey: the first in over 50 years
After 54 years, humanity is once again aiming for the Moon as a goal for space exploration. The Orion spacecraft launched
TL;DR
- Artemis II mission launched on April 1, 2026, from Kennedy Space Center.
- The Orion spacecraft is on a 10-day mission to orbit the Moon.
- The crew consists of Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen.
- Victor Glover is the first African American and Christina Koch is the first woman to travel to the Moon.
- Jeremy Hansen is the first non-American on a lunar mission.
- The mission will reach approximately 4,700 miles from the far side of the Moon.
- Technical issues with a LAS battery and communication system were resolved before launch.
- The Artemis program aims for a functional base on the Moon's South Pole by 2032.
- Artemis III is planned for mid-2027 to land on the lunar surface.