Artemis II: NASA’s First Crewed Moon Flyby Mission
Why in the news
NASA fixed a target date of 6 February for Artemis II, the mission that brings people back to deep space for the first time since 1972.
Key facts
- Artemis II is the first crewed flight of the Artemis programme.
- Profile: a lunar flyby around the Moon with no landing.
- Spacecraft: Orion.
- Purpose: test deep-space systems with astronauts aboard before trying a landing.
| Organisation | Role |
|---|---|
| NASA | Lead agency |
| Canadian Space Agency (CSA) | International partner |
Objectives
- Check human-rated deep-space systems in real mission conditions.
- Get ready for the Artemis III landing.
- Lay the base for future human missions to Mars.
- Build a lasting human presence beyond Earth orbit.
Exam angle
- Spacecraft name: Orion.
- Partner agency: Canadian Space Agency.
- Type: crewed lunar flyby, no landing.