Humanity has officially returned to deep space. After more than half a century of waiting, the historic pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center once again shook with the power of the most colossal rocket ever built - the Space Launch System (SLS). The Artemis II mission has set off for the Moon, marking the first time since the Apollo 17 era that humans have left Earth orbit to head for our natural satellite.
The crew that has the honor of forging this new path consists of four veterans: Commander Reed Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen. Along with them aboard the Orion spacecraft, the little mascot Rise - a plush zero-gravity indicator, selected through an international competition. Before launch, the astronauts underwent strict isolation to ensure the mission was completely safe.
The schedule for this epic journey calls for a ten-day adventure on a free-floating trajectory. The plan is clear: “Orion“ will circle the Moon without landing or entering a permanent orbit, then head back home. During this time, the crew will subject all vital systems to extreme tests - from protection against cosmic radiation and heat shields to sophisticated navigation instruments. This is the dress rehearsal before the big return to the surface, planned with the Artemis IV mission in 2028.
However, the road to a successful launch was not without obstacles. The preparation of the SLS was accompanied by technical headaches, including cryogenic fuel leaks and problems with ground infrastructure, which forced a one-month delay in the launch. Even on the day of the flight, the countdown was stopped for ten minutes shortly before launch, but in the end everything went flawlessly. Nine minutes after separation from the ground, the core stage did its job, and on April 3, “Orion“ will activate its engines for the decisive push to the Moon.
The success of Artemis II is not just another piece of news about technological progress. It is the beginning of a new era in which the Moon will not be just a distant goal, but an outpost of human civilization. With this step, NASA and its international partners are laying the foundation for future lunar bases and, in the longer term, for man's first steps on the red sands of Mars.