NASA Targets February 2026 for Crewed Lunar Flyby
- Artemis II will send four astronauts around the Moon to test systems for future landings, marking the first crewed lunar mission in five decades.
NASA has announced plans to launch its first crewed Moon mission in over 50 years, aiming for a February 2026 departure. The Artemis II mission will carry four astronauts on a ten-day journey around the Moon without landing, serving as a critical test for future lunar operations. Originally scheduled for no later than April, the launch window may open as early as February 5, pending final safety checks. This marks the second major step in the Artemis program, which seeks to establish a sustained human presence on the lunar surface.
Mission Overview and Technical Milestones
Artemis II will build on the success of Artemis I, which sent an uncrewed spacecraft around the Moon in 2022. The upcoming flight will use NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion crew capsule, which are nearing final assembly and ground testing. Once launched, the spacecraft will enter Earth orbit with the help of solid rocket boosters, followed by separation of the core stage and deployment of Orion’s solar arrays. A subsequent engine burn by the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion System (ICPS) will raise the orbit and initiate a 25-hour systems check.
If all systems perform as expected, Orion will detach from ICPS and conduct a Proximity Operations Demonstration—a maneuvering exercise to simulate future docking procedures. Twenty-three hours later, Orion’s service module will execute a Translunar Injection (TLI) burn, sending the crew on a four-day trajectory toward the Moon. The astronauts will travel more than 230,000 miles from Earth, reaching a point at least 9,200 kilometers beyond the lunar surface. This distance surpasses all previous crewed missions, including Apollo 17.
Scientific Goals and Crew Details
The Artemis II crew includes NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. While they won’t land on the Moon, they will be the first humans to venture beyond low Earth orbit since 1972. During the mission, the crew will conduct various system checks and participate in biomedical research. Scientists will analyze organoids—miniature tissue samples grown from the astronauts’ blood—before and after the flight to study the effects of microgravity and radiation.
NASA’s science lead, Dr. Nicky Fox, emphasized the importance of using organoids for detailed biological analysis. These samples allow researchers to examine cellular changes without invasive procedures. The data will contribute to understanding long-term human health in space, a key factor for future deep-space missions. As the spacecraft returns, the crew will rely on Earth’s gravity to slingshot back, culminating in a high-risk atmospheric re-entry and splashdown off the coast of California.
Artemis III Hinges on SpaceX Starship Progress
The success of Artemis II will influence the timeline for Artemis III, which aims to land astronauts on the Moon. NASA has stated that the earliest possible launch for Artemis III is mid-2027, though experts consider this optimistic. The mission depends on SpaceX’s Starship vehicle, which must demonstrate orbital capability and crew readiness before being used for lunar transport. Recent delays in Starship’s development suggest that a Moon landing may still be several years away.
