NASA's Artemis II returns crew around Moon after 50-plus years
NASA's Artemis II is about to send astronauts around the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years.
The 10-day mission features a diverse crew, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, and marks a big step toward NASA's goal of future lunar landings and keeping humans on the Moon long-term.
Artemis II costly but internationally backed
Artemis II isn't cheap: each launch costs more than $4 billion, and the whole program was estimated at around $93 billion through 2025.
But it's not just NASA: countries like Canada (which is sending astronaut Jeremy Hansen), European countries, and Japan are all pitching in with technology and support.
Major aerospace companies like Boeing and Lockheed Martin are also building key parts.
It's truly a worldwide effort to get us back to the Moon, and maybe even Mars someday.