NASA's Artemis 2: Humanity's Return to Deep Space After Five Decades
After more than 50 years since humans last ventured beyond Earth's orbit, NASA is preparing to make history once again. The Artemis 2 mission, targeting a launch in March 2026, will send four astronauts on a journey around the Moon—marking the first crewed deep space mission since Apollo 17 in 1972. A Historic Crew for a Historic Mission The 10-day mission will carry NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. This crew represents several historic firsts: Victor Glover will become the first person of color to leave low Earth orbit, Christina Koch will be the first woman to travel to the Moon, and Jeremy Hansen will be the first non-American to make the journey. Reid Wiseman, an experienced astronaut and test pilot, serves as mission commander. The diverse crew brings together expertise in spacewalks, robotics, long-duration spaceflight, and international collaboration—all essential elements for the amb...