ChronoFive
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Setting the scene
NASA announced the Artemis II crew on April 3, 2023, for a 2026 lunar flyby mission—the first crewed mission to the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972. The crew includes Reid Wiseman (commander), Victor Glover (pilot), Christina Koch (mission specialist), and Jeremy Hansen of Canada (mission specialist). Koch will be the first woman to travel beyond low Earth orbit.
What happened
Artemis II is planned as a 10-day mission to fly around the Moon and return, testing the Orion spacecraft and SLS rocket. It paves the way for Artemis III lunar landing. The mission has faced delays, pushing from 2024 to 2025-2026.
Why it still matters
The crew announcement marked a milestone in NASA's return to the Moon and demonstrated international partnership with Canada.
Background
It continued the return-to-Moon program after test flights.