NASA is shooting for the moon. A guide to the Artemis II mission - AP News

AP News
March 31, 2026
3 min read

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The Bottom Line

NASA is preparing Artemis II, a crewed lunar mission that serves as a dress rehearsal before an actual moon landing.

AI Summary

NASA is preparing for Artemis II, its next crewed lunar mission, which represents a critical step in the agency's effort to return astronauts to the moon. The mission builds on Artemis I, an uncrewed test flight that validated the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft. Artemis II will carry a crew around the moon and back to Earth, serving as a dress rehearsal before Artemis III attempts an actual lunar landing. The mission demonstrates NASA's broader commitment to establishing a sustained human presence on the moon as part of its long-term space exploration strategy. Successful completion of Artemis II is essential to keeping the agency's lunar program on track and eventually enabling missions to Mars.

What's Being Done

NASA is proceeding with Artemis II to carry a crew around the moon and back to Earth as part of its lunar exploration program.

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