NASA will launch the Artemis II mission, with four astronauts who will fly around the Moon, preparing for a future planned moon landing in 2027.

Artemis II will mark the first crewed mission beyond low Earth orbit in the last 50 years, aimed at testing the systems of the rocket and the Orion capsule. Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen will undertake a ten-day journey, without landing on the Moon, but will fly over 9,200 km from the Moon. The mission is essential for the future of the Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustainable presence on the Moon. NASA hopes to launch the mission in February 2027, with a focus on safety.