NASA Prepares Artemis II Mission for Crewed Lunar Flyby in 2026

NASA's Artemis II mission, scheduled for February 6, 2026, will mark the first crewed lunar flight since 1972, sending four astronauts on a 10-day lunar flyby aboard the Orion spacecraft launched by the Space Launch System rocket. The mission will test life-support systems and involve a critical retro-burn maneuver to enter lunar orbit. Artemis II builds on the uncrewed Artemis I test and aims to pave the way for future lunar landings and deeper space exploration.