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NASA unveils Artemis 2 moon mission crew
NASA named the four astronauts who will fly to the moon on Artemis II, including one woman and three men. The three Americans and one Canadian were introduced during a ceremony in Houston, home to the nation's astronauts as well as Mission Control.
NASA’s Artemis II, the first mission to send astronauts to the moon in more than 50 years, is set to launch in coming months.
As NASA prepares for final testing, the agency has released more than a dozen possible dates for Artemis II’s launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Artemis II mission
What we know:
The second mission for the Artemis program will send four astronauts around the moon aboard the Orion spacecraft. Orion will not land on the moon. The goal of the mission is to confirm all of the spacecraft’s systems operate as intended with people on board in deep space.
NASA’s Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft launches on the Artemis I flight test, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
The first Artemis mission in 2022 sent an empty Orion capsule to circle the moon after blasting off on NASA’s new Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. Although the launch and lunar laps went well, the capsule returned with an excessively charred and eroded bottom heat shield, damaged from the heat of reentry.
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Artemis II’s launch has been delayed multiple times. Those delays have pushed the third Artemis mission — a moon landing by two other astronauts — to at least 2027.
The crew will travel approximately 4,700 miles beyond the moon’s surface.
What we don't know:
It’s unclear if the mission could face more delays.
What they're saying:
"Through Artemis, NASA will explore more of the moon than ever before and create an enduring presence in deep space," NASA said.
NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen atop the mobile launcher at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (NASA/Eric Bordelon)
The backstory:
Artemis is a follow-up to the Apollo program of the late 1960s and early 1970s. NASA’s vaulted Apollo program sent 24 astronauts to the moon, with 12 landing on it. An American astronaut hasn’t stepped foot on the moon since Apollo 17 in December 1972.
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Artemis II possible launch dates
Timeline:
The earliest launch window for Artemis II is Feb. 6, 2026, according to NASA. Here are the other possible launch dates:
- Feb. 7
- Feb. 8
- Feb. 10
- Feb. 11
- March 6
- March 7
- March 8
- March 9
- March 11
- April 1
- April 3
- April 4
- April 5
- April 6
- April 30
What's next:
The next step is for NASA to haul the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft to the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to begin final integration, testing and launch rehearsals, NASA says.
That will happen no earlier than Saturday, Jan. 17.
The Source: This report includes information from NASA, The Associated Press and previous FOX Local reporting. FOX's Catherine Stoddard contributed.