Nasa's Artemis II mission prepares for lunar flyby as competition with China intensifies

Nasa's Artemis II mission, set for February 2026, is a critical test of US capability to return astronauts to the Moon amidst growing doubts about beating China. The ten-day mission will fly four astronauts around the Moon, testing Nasa's Orion spacecraft and SLS rocket. It aims to prove the US can safely venture beyond Earth orbit again, facing significant technical and financial challenges. China's recent lunar lander test and its 2030 landing target intensify the race, while Artemis III faces delays with its SpaceX Starship lander and a costly SLS rocket.