US space agency Nasa is preparing for its Artemis II mission, set to launch in early February 2026, which will carry four astronauts on a lunar flyby before returning to Earth.
The Artemis II mission, which is expected to last about 10 days, will mark the first time humans have travelled beyond low-Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972.
The Artemis programme was formally established in 2017 and launched its first uncrewed mission in November 2022 using the long-delayed super heavy-lift launch rocket Space Launch System (SLS).
Artemis II, the programme’s first crewed flight, was originally planned to take place in 2024, followed by a crewed landing on the Moon for Artemis III in 2025. However, in December 2024 the agency confirmed that it would target April 2026 for Artemis II and mid-2027 for Artemis III.
At the time, Nasa said the Artemis II delay would give it time to ensure that the crew vehicle for the Artemis programme, Orion, is robust enough to ensure the safety of the astronauts on...