For the first time since 1972, NASA is preparing to send astronauts on a journey around the Moon. The agency has set March 6 as the earliest possible launch date for Artemis II, a landmark mission that will carry four astronauts on a 10-day trip around the lunar far side before returning to Earth.
The green light follows a successful "wet dress rehearsal" at Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, a crucial pre-launch test in which the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket is fully fueled and taken through a simulated countdown.
An earlier attempt in early February was cut short due to a hydrogen leak at the launch pad. After engineers fixed issues involving seals and filters, the team completed a full fueling test on February 19 and successfully ran through the countdown sequence.
Artemis II's crew includes NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, as well as Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. Following the smooth rehearsal, the team expressed confidence and is set to enter quarantine ahead of liftoff.
The astronauts will travel aboard NASA's 98-meter (322-foot) Space Launch System, the most powerful rocket the agency has ever built. While the SLS made its debut during the uncrewed Artemis I mission in November 2022, this will be its first human flight.
At the top of the rocket sits the Orion capsule, about the size of a minibus, where the crew will live and work during the mission.
The flight plan begins with a day in Earth's orbit. Once systems are confirmed to be functioning properly, Orion will set course for the Moon, a journey of roughly four days.
The spacecraft will travel around the Moon's far side, the portion permanently hidden from Earth, maintaining a distance of approximately 6,500 to 9,500 kilometres above the surface.
The astronauts will spend several hours conducting observations and capturing images before beginning their return trip. The mission will conclude with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
A successful Artemis II mission will pave the way for Artemis III, which aims to land astronauts on the lunar surface, a feat not achieved since Apollo 17 in 1972. NASA is targeting 2028 for that landing, though officials acknowledge the timeline is ambitious.
SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, has been contracted to develop the lunar lander for Artemis III using its Starship rocket. However, delays in Starship's development have led NASA to seek a revised, faster plan. Blue Origin, owned by Jeff Bezos, has also been asked to propose an accelerated approach to a lunar landing.
The renewed push to return to the Moon comes amid increasing global competition. China has announced plans to send astronauts to the lunar surface by 2030, with both countries focusing on the Moon's south pole, a region believed to contain valuable water ice.
Through the Artemis program, NASA aims not only to return humans to the Moon but also to establish a long-term presence there, laying the foundation for future missions to Mars.
