Artemis II mission: NASA’s Crewed Moon Flyby Explained for UPSC

Context: Artemis II mission

NASA’s Artemis II will send humans beyond low-Earth orbit (first time after Apollo 17) to test systems before a Moon landing.

Artemis II mission

1. Artemis Programme

• Artemis I — 2022 → Uncrewed test
• Artemis II — 2026 → Crewed Moon flyby (no landing)
• Artemis III — 2027–28 → Human Moon landing

2. Core Systems

SLS (Space Launch System)

• NASA’s heavy-lift rocket
• Work: Carries astronauts + Orion from Earth to space

Orion Capsule

• Crew vehicle
• Work: Carries astronauts, life support, re-entry

HLS (Human Landing System)

• Built by SpaceX
• Work: Takes astronauts from lunar orbit → Moon surface

3. Artemis II (What exactly happens)

• 4 astronauts
• ~10-day mission
• Travel → Earth → Moon orbit → return
• Purpose → Test entire system (SLS + Orion + humans in deep space)

4. Why Moon again

• Water ice at poles → fuel + life support
• Base for Mars missions
• Strategic presence in space

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