NASA's 'Artemis II' will send four astronauts on a mission around the Moon, the site of future missions.

by August 22, 2025

NASA's Artemis II mission will send four astronauts to conduct scientific operations around the Moon for nearly ten days, at a date yet to be determined. This advances the agency's goal of landing astronauts at the Moon's south polar region, as well as setting the stage for future crewed missions to Mars, according to NASA.

In this regard, the Artemis II crew will be the first to test NASA's Orion spacecraft in space and will conduct scientific investigations that will serve as the basis for future deep-space missions, including lunar scientific exploration.

Kelsey Young, Artemis II lunar science lead at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, explained that "Artemis II offers astronauts the opportunity to implement the lunar science skills they've developed during their training." "It also provides an opportunity for mission control scientists and engineers to collaborate during real-time operations," she added.

The crew will analyze and photograph surface geological features on the lunar far side, such as impact craters and ancient lava flows, and analyze the shapes, textures, and colors of surface features to reveal the geological history of the area, which is crucial when exploring the surface.

The four Artemis II astronauts—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch of NASA, and Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA)—could be the first humans to see parts of the far side of the Moon with the naked eye, depending on the spacecraft's final trajectory, determined at launch.

During the nine Apollo missions that left Earth orbit, astronauts saw parts of the far side of the Moon, but not all of it, as they were limited by the illuminated sections during their orbits.

In this regard, one unlit region you will be able to see is the East Rim, a 600-mile-wide crater that serves as a transition point between the near and far sides and is sometimes partially visible along the western edge of the Moon.

Astronauts will also be able to observe flashes of light from space rocks hitting the surface (clues that help reveal how often the Moon is hit) or dust floating over the Moon's edge, a mysterious phenomenon that scientists are eager to understand.

These observations will lay the groundwork for lunar science activities on future Artemis missions to the lunar surface, including Artemis III. Artemis III astronauts will investigate landforms, rocks, and other features around their landing site.

They will also collect rock samples for analysis in Earth-based laboratories for generations to come and deploy various instruments to investigate lunar properties and resources—information crucial to future human exploration.

NEW CLASS OF ASTRONAUTS

Meanwhile, NASA will introduce its newest astronaut class on September 22, after evaluating more than 8,000 applications, and will preview details of the Artemis II lunar mission at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Selected candidates will undergo nearly two years of training before graduating as astronauts eligible to fly on the Agency's missions to low Earth orbit, the Moon, and later, Mars.

NASA will then host a series of media briefings on Tuesday, September 23, and Wednesday, September 24, at the agency's Johnson Center, showcasing mission support facilities, trainers, and hardware for the Artemis missions.

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