Artemis II mission plans crewed lunar flyby in February 2026

NASA's Artemis II mission plans a crewed lunar flyby in February 2026, a precursor to a potential moon landing in 2027. The mission will send astronauts beyond low Earth orbit for the first time since 1972, flying 7500km past the moon's far side in the Orion spacecraft. This endeavor aims to eventually establish a lunar base, laying groundwork for future Mars missions, echoing the excitement of the Apollo era.