NASA set for first crewed Lunar Orbit mission in 53 years

NASA is set to send humans back to the Moon’s orbit for the first time since 1972, marking a major milestone in space exploration.

The agency confirmed that the Artemis II mission is scheduled for launch on Wednesday at 6:24pm (local time) from Kennedy Space Center.

The crew includes Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

Launch Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson said the mission is in “excellent condition” ahead of liftoff. The mission will be historic, sending the first woman, first Black astronaut, and first non-American into lunar orbit.

The roughly 10-day mission will not land on the Moon but will orbit it, testing the Orion spacecraft’s life-support systems, navigation, communication, and heat shield capabilities.

The Artemis programme, which has faced multiple delays due to technical challenges, is seen as a key step in maintaining US leadership in space amid growing competition, particularly with China.

Unlike the Apollo programme, which focused on short-term lunar landings, the Artemis programme aims to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon with international collaboration involving multiple countries.