NASA's Artemis missions promise a return to the moon—but when?
NASA's Artemis II mission plans to fly around the moon and back this April.
Summary
The Artemis II mission, named for its objective to further lunar exploration, will not include a lunar landing. Instead, it focuses on a circumlunar trajectory, which is critical for testing systems and crew readiness for future missions.
The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, a cornerstone of NASA's lunar ambitions, will facilitate this mission, allowing for significant payload capacity and operational flexibility in deep space.
The 10-day duration of the mission will provide valuable data on life support systems and spacecraft performance in a deep space environment, informing subsequent Artemis missions aimed at lunar landings.
Key Facts
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Primary source | Phys.org |
| Source count | 2 |
| First published | 2026-03-19T23:40:01.000Z |
Updates
Update at 06:01 UTC on 2026-03-20
BBC World reported Nasa is preparing a mission to send astronauts around the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years.
Sources: BBC World