Here's who's on the Artemis II crew headed toward the moon
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Artemis II
Artemis program's second lunar flight
Artemis II is a planned lunar spaceflight mission under the Artemis program, led by NASA. It is intended to be the second flight of the Space Launch System (SLS), and the first crewed mission of the Orion spacecraft. It is the first crewed mission around the Moon, and beyond low Earth orbit, since A...
Canadian Astronaut Corps
Canadian Space Agency unit
The Canadian Astronaut Corps is a unit of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) that selects, trains, and provides astronauts as crew members for U.S. and Russian space missions. As of 2025, the corps has four active members.
Artemis program
NASA-led lunar exploration program
The Artemis program is a Moon exploration program led by the United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), formally established in 2017 through Space Policy Directive-1. The program intends to reestablish a human presence on the Moon for the first time since the Apollo 17 miss...
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Deep Analysis
Why It Matters
This announcement matters because it represents the first crewed mission to the moon in over 50 years, marking a critical step in NASA's Artemis program to establish sustainable lunar exploration. It affects international space collaboration, scientific research communities, and commercial space industries by demonstrating renewed human deep space capabilities. The mission also has geopolitical significance as nations compete in the new space race, while inspiring public interest in STEM fields and space exploration.
Context & Background
- The last human moon landing was Apollo 17 in 1972, ending NASA's Apollo program
- Artemis I was an uncrewed test flight that successfully orbited the moon in late 2022
- The Artemis program aims to land the first woman and first person of color on the moon
- International partnerships include the European Space Agency, Canadian Space Agency, and commercial companies like SpaceX
- NASA plans to establish a sustainable lunar presence as a stepping stone for eventual Mars missions
What Happens Next
Following crew announcement, intensive training will begin for the 10-day mission scheduled for late 2024 or 2025. The crew will conduct systems testing during lunar flyby before returning to Earth. Successful completion will pave way for Artemis III, planned as the first crewed lunar landing since Apollo. NASA will also finalize lunar lander development and Gateway station components for future missions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Artemis II will be the first crewed mission of the program, testing life support systems and crew operations during lunar flyby, whereas Artemis I was an uncrewed test of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion capsule.
Artemis uses modern technology, international partnerships, and aims for sustainable presence rather than brief visits. The Orion capsule is larger and designed for longer missions supporting future Mars exploration.
Primary risks include radiation exposure beyond Earth's magnetic field, spacecraft systems reliability during critical maneuvers, and re-entry at higher speeds than low-Earth orbit missions.
No, Artemis II will perform a lunar flyby approximately 4,600 miles from the moon's surface before returning to Earth, serving as a crewed shakedown cruise before landing missions.
The mission tests deep space operations, radiation protection, and life support systems needed for longer journeys. Lunar experience will help develop technologies and procedures for the 9-month trip to Mars.