Artemis II Prepares for Historic Crewed Lunar Flyby Today
- Artemis II launches today, marking the first crewed lunar flyby in 50 years and testing deep‑space systems for future landings. nasa.gov+1
- A four‑astronaut crew aboard Orion will undertake a 10‑day free‑return trajectory, validating the SLS rocket and Orion’s deep‑space capabilities. nasa.gov+1
- The mission is historic, being the first crew beyond low‑Earth orbit since Apollo 1972, and it lays the groundwork to land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon. en.wikipedia.org
- The European Service Module (ESM‑2) provides propulsion, power, air, and water, and was transported via an Antonov 124, underscoring international collaboration. twitter.com
- NASA offers real‑time tracking and a launch countdown, engaging the public while the mission tests navigation, propulsion, and life‑support systems. nasa.gov+1
