Key NASA administrator breaks down goals of Artemis II mission

CBS News
March 31, 2026
3 min read

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The Bottom Line

NASA's Artemis II mission will test rockets and spacecraft before landing humans on the moon again.

AI Summary

Lakiesha Hawkins, NASA's acting deputy associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, outlined the objectives of the Artemis II moon mission in a CBS News 24/7 appearance. Artemis II represents a crucial step in NASA's broader lunar exploration program, designed to return humans to the moon and establish a foundation for sustained exploration. The mission serves as a test of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft before a planned crewed lunar landing under Artemis III. Hawkins's briefing underscores NASA's effort to communicate progress on one of the agency's flagship initiatives at a time when space exploration remains a priority for the Trump administration. The Artemis program aims to demonstrate American capability to conduct complex human spaceflight missions in preparation for eventual Mars exploration.

What's Being Done

NASA is conducting the Artemis II test mission as a prerequisite for the crewed lunar landing planned under Artemis III.

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