NASA announces the launch of the Artemis II mission to the Moon at the beginning of February 2026, the first human flight after Apollo 17

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has announced that the launch of the Artemis II mission, which will mark the first human flight to the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972, is scheduled for early February 2026. This mission represents an important step forward before Artemis III, which aims to bring astronauts back to the surface of the Moon.

The four astronauts of the mission, who will fly around the Moon for 10 days, are currently in medical quarantine to prevent illness before the flight. The mission commander is Reid Wiseman, and the crew also includes pilot Victor Glover, engineer Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. Upon their return, the astronauts will splash down in the Pacific Ocean, where they will be recovered by the United States Navy.