It is planned that in 2026, the super-powerful SLS launch vehicle with the Orion spacecraft will embark on its next journey, ushering in a new era of lunar exploration. The Artemis II mission will be the first in over 50 years to take humans beyond low Earth orbit – farther than any Apollo astronauts ever flew.
The four crew members – NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and their colleague from the Canadian Space Agency, Jeremy Hansen – will not land on the surface of our satellite. Their task is only to fly around the Moon and return home safely. But even this maneuver will take them to a record distance from our planet, surpassing all previous manned flights.
Dress rehearsal in spacesuits
Preparations for launch are currently underway. NASA recently conducted an important dress rehearsal, during which astronauts wearing the latest Orion Crew Survival System spacesuits took their places in the spacecraft. These special suits, designed to ensure the survival of the crew, were successfully tested inside the Orion spacecraft, which is already connected to the SLS rocket in the high-altitude building at the Kennedy Space Center.
Photo: Johnson Space Center
The launch is scheduled for no later than April 2026, but the agency is trying to make it happen as early as February. Engineers are currently completing the final preparations for all systems. The dress rehearsal was the final check of the crew’s interaction with ground services before the rocket was transported to the legendary launch complex 39B.
The frantic finale of preparations
This rehearsal is a key step before the countdown begins. After it, final preparations for launch will begin, including rehearsing actions in case of any emergencies at the launch site.
The Artemis II mission will pave the way for Artemis III, which is set to land humans on the Moon. This is the first step in returning humanity to Earth’s satellite after a 53-year hiatus.
Earlier, we talked about what to expect from the Artemis II mission.
Provided by NASA
