NASA is poised to make history with its ambitious mission, Artemis 2, which aims to return astronauts to the moon for the first time this century. Set for a launch no later than April 2026, the mission could potentially take off even sooner, with February 5 being a target date, as indicated by mission managers during a recent event at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston.
The Artemis 2 mission is designed to span a total of 10 days, where four astronauts will embark on a journey around the moon aboard NASA's Orion spacecraft. During a press conference, Lakiesha Hawkins, NASA's acting deputy associate administrator for exploration systems development, emphasized the significance of this mission, stating, "We together have a front-row seat to history: We're returning to the moon after over 50 years."
If Artemis 2 is launched on February 5, it will occur at night, with NASA officials noting that there are approximately five available launch days in February, March, and April. The latest possible launch date is April 26. Hawkins highlighted that while NASA aims to launch early in the window, crew safety remains the top priority. "We want to emphasize that safety is our top priority," she reiterated.
The Artemis 2 crew will be led by NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, accompanied by pilot Victor Glover, mission specialists Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. This mission marks the first crewed flight of NASA's Artemis program, paving the way for a crewed return to the moon.
Artemis 2 will follow a free-return trajectory, allowing the astronauts to travel around the moon without entering lunar orbit or landing on its surface. The mission will take them at least 5,000 nautical miles (approximately 9,260 kilometers) past the moon, a distance greater than any previous missions have achieved. Jeff Radigan, the lead flight director for Artemis 2, explained that this trajectory will provide a unique viewing experience, with the moon appearing smaller than in past missions.
The Artemis 2 mission follows the uncrewed Artemis 1 test flight, which successfully launched an Orion spacecraft to lunar orbit in November 2022 and returned to Earth about four weeks later. Although Artemis 2 was initially scheduled for a 2025 launch, it was postponed to 2026 due to unexpected damage to the Artemis 1 Orion capsule's heat shield during reentry. Rick Henfling, the lead entry flight director for Artemis 2, stated that the team has extensively studied this issue and implemented measures to mitigate risk in the upcoming mission.
Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, NASA's launch director for Artemis 2, discussed the challenges faced during the Artemis 1 launch, particularly regarding liquid hydrogen leaks. Modifications have since been made to the launch pad and fueling processes to lessen the likelihood of similar issues arising in Artemis 2. "We learned an awful lot during Artemis 1," Blackwell-Thompson noted, emphasizing the importance of the lessons learned for future missions.
The Boeing-built SLS rocket for Artemis 2 is nearing completion at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Vehicle Assembly Building in Florida, with solid rocket boosters attached. In the coming weeks, the Orion capsule and its adapter will be integrated into the rocket. NASA anticipates showcasing the fully assembled Artemis 2 rocket in October.
NASA officials have reiterated that despite being a crewed mission, Artemis 2 remains a test flight, aimed at gathering valuable data while ensuring astronaut safety. "To call this mission fully successful, we need to fly by the moon, bring the crew home safely, and welcome them back with open arms," Radigan concluded, highlighting the mission's multifaceted goals as it paves the way for future explorations.
