A new stage in human space exploration is entering its decisive phase. Artemis 2 is set to launch in the coming hours, with a crew on board. This mission marks the return of humans beyond low Earth orbit since the end of the Apollo program.
Scheduled for no earlier than April 1, 2026, the launch depends on a launch window spanning several days. NASA is targeting a first attempt from the Kennedy Space Center. As is often the case for this type of mission, weather and final technical checks could still impose a last-minute delay.
The Orion spacecraft flying past the Moon during Artemis I on November 21, 2022.
Image NASA
The system used relies on the Space Launch System rocket and the Orion capsule. This system has never carried astronauts before. The mission must therefore validate all equipment under real conditions, notably life support systems, navigation, and communications over long distances.
On board, the crew consists of Reid Wiseman, American commander from NASA, Victor Glover, American pilot, Christina Koch, American engineer, and Jeremy Hansen, Canadian astronaut from the Canadian Space Agency. This composition reflects international openness and a diversification of profiles, with operational, scientific, and diplomatic stakes as part of the Artemis program.
Left Christina Koch, bottom Reid Wiseman, top Victor J. Glover, right Jeremy Hansen.
Image NASA The flight profile calls for a lunar flyby using a so-called free-return trajectory. This choice, already used during Apollo missions, guarantees additional safety: in case of failure, the spacecraft is naturally brought back to Earth by gravity. The mission is expected to last about ten days, with a passage several hundred thousand miles (several hundred thousand kilometers) from Earth.
Beyond the technical demonstration, Artemis 2 is part of a broader strategy for a sustainable return to the Moon. The next mission, Artemis 3, is set to test an orbital rendezvous around Earth in 2027. It is Artemis 4 that will materialize the program with a Moon landing in 2028. The stakes, however, go beyond scientific exploration alone.
For several years, China has been accelerating its own lunar program. Beijing plans crewed missions around the Moon by 2030, with a stated ambition for a sustained presence. This dynamic is reigniting a form of strategic competition, comparable in some aspects to the rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
Artemis 2 plays a key role. It is not just about testing a spacecraft, but about demonstrating operational capability in deep space. The success of this mission conditions the credibility of the American schedule in the face of its partners and competitors.
1: Liftoff of the SLS rocket from Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center
2: Jettisoning of the solid rocket boosters, launch abort tower, and fairing
3: First stage main engine cutoff (MECO) and jettison of the core stage
4: Perigee raise maneuver
5: Apogee raise maneuver; systems checkout (duration 23.5 hours)
6: Separation of the upper stage (ICPS) and the Orion spacecraft
7: ICPS and Orion spacecraft maneuvers to separate the two vehicles; systems checkout, life support system assessment
8: Perigee raise maneuver
9: Trans-lunar injection maneuver
10: Outbound trajectory correction maneuver to enable automatic Earth return after lunar flyby (OTC)
11: Lunar flyby at a distance of 6,513 km (4,047 miles)
12: Return trajectory correction maneuver for optimal Earth return (RTC)
13: Service module jettison
14: Earth atmospheric re-entry
15: Splashdown; recovery of astronauts and Orion capsule by naval ships
A: The jettisoned ICPS stage is used to test Orion's maneuvering capabilities
B: Deployment of CubeSats, remote observation of the ICPS stage
Image Wikimedia Final preparations are underway. The impressive launch vehicle is currently installed on its launch pad and teams are carrying out final checks. The crew, for its part, is undergoing a strict quarantine period to limit any health risks before departure. At this stage, every detail counts, as the slightest incident can lead to a postponement.
The launch will mark a major milestone. It will pave the way for a new series of crewed missions to the Moon, with the ultimate goal of a regular human presence with orbital and surface infrastructure.