Artemis II mission is about to fly humans to the Moon — here’s the science they’ll do - nature.com

NASA's Artemis II mission is preparing to send astronauts back to the Moon for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972, with the flight expected to carry a crew in lunar orbit to conduct scientific observations and test systems for future landings. The mission will serve as a crucial test of NASA's Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft, validating hardware and procedures before subsequent missions attempt to land astronauts on the lunar surface. The science payload will focus on gathering data about the lunar environment, radiation exposure, and other factors critical to sustaining human presence on the Moon. Artemis II represents a major step in NASA's broader effort to establish a sustainable lunar exploration program and eventual crewed missions to Mars. The mission's success or setbacks will directly influence the timeline and scope of follow-on Artemis missions aimed at returning humans to the lunar surface.