Nasa readies its most powerful rocket for round-the-moon flight

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 4 min read 100% complete by Ian Sample Science editorJanuary 17, 2026 at 07:00 AM

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NASA is preparing its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket for the Artemis II mission, scheduled to launch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida as early as February 6. This mission will send four astronauts, including the first woman and person of color to travel beyond low Earth orbit, on a 685,000-mile journey around the moon and back. The 10-day flight will test the Orion capsule's life support and communication systems, paving the way for future lunar landings. Artemis II marks the second test flight of the SLS rocket and the first with a crew, aiming to continue lunar exploration and potentially compete with China's space program. The mission is a significant step towards sustained human and robotic exploration of the moon and eventually Mars.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Reid Wiseman 50% Jeremy Hansen 50% China 60% Florida 60% Jared Isaacman 60% Victor Glover ×260% Christina Koch ×260% Kennedy Space Center 70% Orion ×270% Space Launch System (SLS) ×280% Artemis II ×490% Nasa ×6100%

Keywords

artemis ii 100% moon mission 90% space launch system (sls) 80% orion capsule 70% lunar exploration 60% human spaceflight 60% space race 50% nasa 50% astronauts 40%