What is Artemis II and why is it a big deal for lunar exploration?

The answer

Artemis II, slated to launch in 2026, will send four astronauts around the Moon on a roughly 10-day mission - the first crewed lunar flight since Apollo 17 in December 1972. The crew includes NASA commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover (the first Black astronaut on a lunar mission), mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. Unlike Apollo, the Orion spacecraft uses modern life support, communication, and navigation systems. Artemis II is a critical test flight that will validate all systems before Artemis III attempts to land astronauts near the Moon's south pole, where water ice could sustain future lunar bases.