Artemis II

Artemis II is NASA's upcoming mission to send astronauts on a lunar flyby, marking the first crewed mission to the Moon in over 50 years. The mission utilizes the Space Launch System (SLS), NASA's most powerful rocket, and the Orion spacecraft. It is newsworthy as it represents a significant step towards returning humans to the Moon. Recently, the 98-meter tall SLS rocket was transported from the Kennedy Space Center's vehicle assembly building to the launch pad, a 4-mile journey that took approximately 12 hours. NASA is also conducting crucial tests, including fueling the rocket, to finalize the launch date. The mission, scheduled to launch as early as February 6th, involves a 685,000-mile round trip, culminating in a Pacific Ocean splashdown after about 10 days. Artemis II is a critical precursor to future lunar landings and a key component of NASA's broader Artemis program.