NASA’s ‘Artemis II’ Returns to the Moon After a Long 54 Years

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News Desk: After more than half a century, humans are once again set to leave Earth for the Moon. Four astronauts will embark on the Artemis II mission from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
This marks the first human journey to the Moon in 54 years, since 1972. The expedition is part of NASA’s multi-billion-dollar Artemis lunar program. Earlier, in 2022, the Artemis I mission sent a rocket to the Moon without any crew. However, this time, the journey will not only orbit the Moon but also push past previous human spaceflight records, powered by NASA’s most powerful rocket, the Space Launch System.
John Hanickat, Chairman of the Artemis II Management Team, said this lunar mission with astronauts is the first step toward establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon. During the 10-day journey, the rocket’s life-support and navigation systems will be tested in extreme space conditions, paving the way for future Moon landings.
Mission Commander Reid Wiseman will lead Artemis II, joined by rocket pilot Victor Glover and two mission specialists: Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The team will orbit the Moon, conduct necessary research, and perform preparatory work for Artemis III, but will not land on the lunar surface.
As part of pre-launch preparations, NASA conducted a “wet dress rehearsal” on Tuesday. During the test, a liquid hydrogen leak was detected during the simulated launch, causing a postponement. Considering orbital calculations and mission logistics, Artemis II is now tentatively scheduled for launch in March.