What to know about the Artemis II crew before moon mission begins

NASA's Artemis II crew is preparing for a crewed lunar orbit mission scheduled to launch this week, marking the first crewed moon mission since the Apollo program ended in 1972. The mission will test NASA's next-generation Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft with astronauts aboard, paving the way for future lunar landings under the Artemis program. A successful flight would demonstrate that NASA can safely return humans to the moon and validate critical systems before attempting crewed surface missions. The crew's preparation includes extensive training on spacecraft systems, emergency procedures, and the unique challenges of deep space travel beyond Earth's protective magnetic field. This mission represents a major milestone in the U.S. space program's long-term goal to establish sustained human presence on the lunar surface.