NASA may be gearing up for a momentous return to the moon much sooner than anticipated. The space agency has revealed that the inaugural crewed flight of its Artemis programme could potentially take place as early as February. This ambitious initiative represents the United States' flagship effort to send humans back to the lunar surface, competing in a multibillion-dollar race with China, which aims for a manned moon landing by 2030.
In November 2022, the first mission of the Artemis programme successfully launched an uncrewed spacecraft around the moon and back. Building on this achievement, Artemis II is set to embark on a 10-day mission that will circle the moon, focusing on scientific exploration and economic opportunities, while laying the groundwork for future crewed missions to Mars. According to NASA, this mission is pivotal in the agency's broader goals.
The crew aboard Artemis II will not be landing on the lunar surface; however, they will be the first astronauts to venture beyond low Earth orbit since the Apollo missions in 1972. As reported by the BBC, this mission was originally scheduled for April, but recent updates indicate a possible launch as early as February. "We together have a front row seat to history," said Lakiesha Hawkins, NASA’s acting deputy associate administrator, during a press conference on Tuesday. She emphasized, “The launch window could open as early as the fifth of February, but we want to underscore that safety is our top priority."
Artemis II serves as a critical test flight for NASA's ambitious plans for Artemis III, which is currently slated for 2027. The latter aims to achieve a historic moon landing, utilizing a specialized variant of SpaceX’s Starship rocket. In contrast, Artemis II will rely on NASA’s own Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion capsule. The Orion capsule will be launched atop the towering 98-meter (322 feet) SLS rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the first occasion that this spacecraft duo will carry humans into space.
The upcoming missions under the Artemis programme are poised to not only reignite humanity's presence on the moon but also pave the way for future exploration of Mars. As NASA advances toward these historic milestones, the world watches with eager anticipation.
