The NASA SLS (Space Launch System) rocket is ready to launch the Orion spacecraft towards the moon with an astronaut crew on board.
The Artemis II mission of NASA will mark a historical moment: for the first time after more than fifty years, four astronauts will fly around the moon aboard the Orion spacecraft, driven by the gigantic SLS rocket (Space Launch System). It will be a trial flight with crew, scheduled for about ten days, and will represent a decisive step towards the return of humanity on the lunar surface and, in perspective, to Mars.
The mission Artemis II Della NASA is currently scheduled for April 2026, with the aim of making a flight with a crew around the moon. However, NASA is trying to anticipate the launch in February 2026, if the technical conditions will allow it.
The load -bearing column of Artemis. The SLS is the most powerful rocket ever built by NASA, designed for missions beyond the terrestrial orbit. It rises for about 98 meters (almost a 30 -storey skyscraper) and develops a pushing of about 4 million kg. Its main components are the central stadium with 4 RS-25 engines, the two lateral boosters with solid propellant, the ICPS (Interim Cryogenic propulsion internship interim stage, i.e. temporary cryogenic propulsion stage) and adapters for the Orion spacecraft. Its useful load amounts to about 27 tons in lunar orbit. Its role is to bring astronauts and cargo to the moon and, in the future, Mars.
The new SLS rocket. At first glance, the Artemis II SLS seems identical to the one that led to Orion orbit without crew in the Artemis I mission. In reality, engineers and technicians have introduced numerous improvements, both internal and external, to increase reliability, safety and performance. Among the main novelties there are innovations in navigation and communications with the earth. The SLS has an enhanced guidance system and repositioned antennas to guarantee continuous connections with the earth stations and with the Space Launch Delta 45 of the US Space Force (a US SPACE command command that is based in Cape Canaveral, Florida. It deals with managing and authorizing space launches from the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canavera Space Force Station; of the surrounding air/maritime space; monitor and support communications and operations during the most delicate phases of space flights).
Safety. It was also intervened on the safety of the crew: the ICPS (Temporary cryogenic stadium) has been equipped with a system capable of detecting anomalies and notifying astronauts; In addition, the rocket self -destruction mechanism has been modified with a delay to allow Orion to move away in the event of an emergency.
Innovations also as regards the separation of the boosters: the solid propellant side rockets will detach four seconds first compared to Artemis I, providing precious data to optimize the profit in future missions. And the vibrations were still designed: during Artemis I had been recorded unexpected oscillations in the Booster attack points. To correct them, special aerodynamic strips of two meters were installed and the on -board electronic systems updated. Finally, other improvements concern the energy distribution unit, which now offers greater protection from electrical risks. In summary, the Artemis II SLS is a “refined” version, designed to guarantee a safe trip to the first crew of the program.
The Artemis II crew. The mission will also be historical for the composition of its crew, which reflects the will of NASA and the international partners to build an inclusive and global spatial exploration. On board Orion there will be Reid Wiseman (NASA), commander of the mission, former hunting pilot and former head of the NASA astronauts office. Victor Glover (NASA), pilot, first African American astronaut to fly around the moon. He has already participated in a long -lasting mission on the International Space Station (Expedition 64). Jeremy Hansen (CSA, Canadian space agency), a mission specialist, former hunting pilot of the Canadian armed forces. It will be the first non -US astronaut to participate in a lunar mission.
Inclusive. Christina Hammock Koch (NASA), mission specialist, engineer in electronics and astronaut known for the record of stay in space for a woman (328 consecutive days). He will be the first woman to leave the earth’s orbit to fly to the moon. Their presence on board represents an epochal goal: never before a woman, an African American astronaut and a Canadian had taken part in a mission beyond the low terrestrial orbit.
Towards the future. With Artemis II, NASA will not lead astronauts to land on the moon – this goal is up to Artemis III – but the test will be crucial to verify each system in real conditions, opening the way to the return to the lunar surface. The entire Artemis campaign aims not only to establish a sustainable presence on the moon, but also to prepare humanity for the next great challenge: to send human beings to Mars.