NASA is getting ready for its Artemis II mission, which will send a crew around the Moon. The launch could happen as early as April 1. This will be the first time humans fly by the Moon in over 50 years.
Lori Glaze, a senior NASA official, confirmed the team is aiming for the April 1 launch. She noted that while it's a test flight with some risks, the team and equipment are prepared. The mission was originally planned for February but faced delays due to technical issues.
The Mission Details
The first chance to launch is Wednesday, April 1, at 6:24 PM (22:24 GMT). There will be about four launch opportunities within a six-day period.
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Start Your News DetoxThe crew will include three American astronauts: Reid Wiseman (mission commander), Victor Glover, and Christina Koch. Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen will also be on board.
Artemis II will first orbit Earth. Then, it will travel to the Moon, fly around it without landing, and return to Earth. The spacecraft will splash down in the ocean.
The distance the crew gets to the Moon will vary depending on the launch date. This is because the Moon will be in a different position each day. The crew will be about 4,000 to 6,000 miles (6,450 to 9,650 km) above the lunar surface.
While the first Artemis mission flew closer (80 miles above the surface), Artemis II will still bring humans tens of thousands of miles closer to the Moon than anyone has been in over 50 years. From that distance, the Moon will look about the size of a basketball held at arm's length to the crew.
Looking Ahead
After Artemis II, the next mission will be Artemis III. Its goal is to have at least one lunar lander meet up in low-Earth orbit.
Artemis IV is planned for early 2028. This mission aims to land humans on the Moon again. This goal was set by former US President Donald Trump during his first term.
