Project Artemis marks the restart of NASA's manned lunar exploration program, a long-term plan to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustainable exploration system.
Artemis II is also the first manned mission as part of the program.
Mission Objectives:
1. Perform a lunar flyby test, which will be the first time humans have flown beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972.
2. Test the Orion spacecraft's systems to ensure they can operate normally in the deep space environment with humans aboard.
3. Verify the performance of life support systems, including the ability to generate breathable air and remove carbon dioxide and water vapor.
Mission Overview:
1.Expected launch date: April 12, 2026
2.Mission duration: planned to be 10 days and 12
3.Launch site: Kennedy Space Center
4.Launch vehicle: Space Launch System (SLS) Block 1 12
5.Spacecraft: Orion spacecraft (Orion CM-003)