A new era of space exploration is underway. Artemis II, the latest mission taking us back towards the Moon, launches on April 1 at 6:24pm ET at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
NASA’s Artemis program is designed to take astronauts farther than they’ve traveled in over 50 years, building towards a sustained presence on the Moon and future missions beyond. At the center of this effort is Artemis II—a mission that will help define what comes next.
NASA began its Artemis program to further human exploration of the Moon and set the stage for potential missions to Mars in the future. Artemis I launched in 2022 as an uncrewed lunar flight test, meaning no human astronauts onboard, and tested NASA’s brand-new Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System, or SLS, rocket that will provide the foundation for expanding human exploration of space.
NASA’s Artemis II SLS Rocket and Orion spacecraft being rolled out to launch pad
Artemis II is significant because it is the first crewed mission aboard the new Orion and the SLS rocket. It will send 4 astronauts into orbit around the Moon for 10 days: Reid Wiseman, commander; Victor Glover, pilot; Christina Koch, mission specialist; and Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist. However, they will not land on the Moon during this mission. Still, the astronauts will be the first humans to be this close to the Moon, including the far side that faces away from Earth, since 1972. This mission will test the systems, like life-support, navigation, and communications, that are intended to support humans’ return to the lunar surface in the coming years.
“It’s amazing that our current generation of astronauts will make history with lots of firsts,” said Monica Marshall, Astronomer at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. “Not only are we taking 4 astronauts around the Moon in a bigger and lighter vehicle—the Orion spacecraft, which Artemis II has named Integrity—for a longer time, but also Artemis II will have on board a superstar crew of the first African American, first woman, and first Canadian to journey to the moon!”
From left to right, Artemis II Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen from the CSA (Canadian Space Agency), Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Pilot Victor Glover
After the mission, scientists and engineers will spend months analyzing data from Artemis II to determine the next steps in the program. Currently, Artemis III is scheduled to occur in 2027. This mission will test rendezvous and docking capabilities between the Orion and two commercial landers which will transport crew from the rocket to the lunar surface. Humans are not expected to step onto the Moon again until Artemis IV, which should take place around 2028, according to NASA’s current timeline.
Closer to home in Ohio, NASA Glenn played an integral role in testing Orion through their simulation facilities leading up to the launch of Artemis I. They subjected the spacecraft to the intense temperatures and electromagnetic conditions it would face during the launch and in space. The Orion capsule returned to NASA Glenn in 2024 for a second round of testing to test the rocket’s response during an emergency situation.
Orion Environmental Test Article (ETA) arrival at NASA Glenn testing facilities in Sandusky, Ohio
Artemis II is a crucial step toward future Moon landings and long-term space exploration. After the mission, scientists and engineers will spend months analyzing the data to determine the next steps in the Artemis program. Beyond the Moon, Artemis II also supports long-term goals like sending humans to Mars. Scientists continue to study Mars because it may have once supported microbial life, and its similarities to early Earth make it a key target in the search for habitable environments beyond our planet. Mars has remained largely unchanged for hundreds of millions of years, partially because it lacks active tectonic plates like the ones that actively reshape Earth’s surface.
Artemis II represents an important step forward in a much larger journey—one that continues to expand our understanding of the Moon, Mars, and the broader Universe. As these missions move ahead, they not only shape the future of space exploration but also invite all of us to stay curious about what lies beyond our own planet.
If you’re interested in exploring more of our Universe yourself, the Nathan and Fannye Shafran Planetarium offers a variety of shows that take you across the Solar System, Galaxy, and beyond. Live programs led by Museum astronomers give visitors the chance to ask questions and engage directly with science. Check out our current and upcoming shows.
