NASA readies Artemis II to send astronauts around the moon
NASA is finally sending astronauts around the moon again with Artemis II, something we haven't seen since Apollo 17 back in 1972.
The original Apollo program ended early because of budget cuts and shifting priorities, but now NASA's getting back in the game, aiming for bigger and bolder lunar goals.
Artemis II to test lunar technologies
Artemis II will fly astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen around the moon to test out new technology for future landings and long-term stays.
With China making big moves toward its own crewed lunar missions by 2030, Artemis II is NASA's way of showing it still leads in space exploration.
This flight sets up plans for a sustained presence on the moon, and paves the way for a future crewed lunar landing, which will put humans back on the lunar surface for the first time in over 50 years.