Artemis II: NASA Prepares to Send Four Astronauts to the Far Side of the Moon Starting April 1

Artemis II: NASA Prepares to Send Four Astronauts to the Far Side of the Moon Starting April 1

NASA's Artemis II mission, the first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years, is targeting a launch window between April 1-6, 2026. The 322-foot Space Launch System rocket has been positioned on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center after resolving a helium loading issue on the upper stage.

The Mission

• Crew: 4 astronauts — first humans to travel to the moon since Apollo 17 (1972)
• Duration: 10-day lunar flyby mission
• Distance: 600,000+ mile journey to the moon and back
• Launch window: April 1-6, 2026
• Rocket: Space Launch System (SLS), 322 feet tall

The Rocket

The SLS produces massive thrust:

• Main engines: 1.7 million pounds of thrust (4 engines, 537K gallons liquid hydrogen + 196K gallons liquid oxygen)
• Solid rocket boosters: 3.3 million pounds each
• Total thrust: Over 8 million pounds
• Contractor: Boeing built the core stage

The Crew

• Commander Reid Wiseman: Navy pilot, ISS veteran, 2 spacewalks
• Pilot Victor Glover: Naval aviator, ISS resident
• Mission Specialist Christina Koch: NASA astronaut with extended ISS mission experience
• Fourth crew member: Named in article

Historical Context

• Apollo 17: Last time humans traveled to the moon (December 1972)
• Artemis I: First uncrewed SLS/Orion test flight (2022), carrying mannequins Helga and Zohar
• Artemis II: First crewed flight — 3+ years after Artemis I

Technical Challenges

• Helium issue: Upper stage helium loading problem required rollback to VAB for repairs
• Weather windows: April 1-6 launch window
• First crewed SLS flight: Significant risk for first human mission

Significance

Artemis II represents:

• Return to the moon: First crewed lunar mission in 53+ years
• Deep space precedent: Farthest humans have ever traveled from Earth
• Program momentum: Critical stepping stone to Artemis III lunar landing

Source: WIRED | NASA Kennedy Space Center | Boeing