NASA's Artemis II to Launch Crewed Mission Around the Moon in 2026
SPACE ECONOMY
NASA's Artemis II mission, set to launch on February 6, 2026, will be the first crewed flight of the Artemis program, lasting 10 days and testing the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft. The crew, including commander Reid Wiseman and pilot Victor Glover, will execute a hybrid free-return trajectory around the Moon, validating life support and navigation systems in preparation for future lunar missions, specifically Artemis III. The mission will conclude with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean after a communications blackout during the flyby.

Jan 15, 2026, 6:14 AM