It was not long ago, when NASA successfully completed Artemis-I, an uncrewed mission to the moon. It was the first test flight in the new Artemis program, how this was uncrewed flight. It was aimed to test some aspects and modules of new and most powerful Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft on top of it, without risking any human lives. However, NASA Artemis-II, which will take off in the year 2024, will be a crewed mission to the moon.
NASA have today announced the names of four astronauts, who will be aboard NASA Orion spacecraft for Artemis-II mission. Three of the astronauts aboard Artemis-II Orion spacecraft will be from American Space Agency NASA and one will be from Canadian Space Agency (CSA). Following are the names and roles of the crew, aboard Artemis-II mission.
| Name of Astronaut | Space Agency | Role on Artemis-II Mission |
|---|---|---|
| Reid Wiseman | NASA | Mission Commander |
| Victor Glover | NASA | Pilot |
| Christina Hammock Koch | NASA | Mission Specialist 1 |
| Jeremy Hansen | CSA | Mission Specialist 2 |
After the Apollo missions to the moon, after almost half century mankind is again going back to the moon. However, according to NASA, this time we are not going back to the moon to touch it and comeback. This time mankind is going to the moon, to stay there.
There is another special thing about the mission, it flies the first Woman and first person of color to the moon. In the previous apollo missions, it never happened. Also, NASA is not operating as a sole agency in the new Artemis Program. It is involving its global partners as well. Same is the reason, on the second Artemis mission the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen will be joining the three NASA astronauts as part of the crew.
NASA’s Artemis Program aims to establish long term presence on the moon, for scientific research and exploration. However, Artemis-II mission will still be a crewed test flight, where lots of systems of SLS rocket and specially the Orion Spacecraft will be tested, this includes the life support systems and more. There will be no moon landing involved in the Artemis-II mission as it is still aimed to test several systems. However, the crew will circle the moon for several hours and then will come back home.
This will definitely pave the way for the future missions to the moon where not only astronauts will land on the moon but also the steps will be taken for long term, permanent, human presence on the moon. NASA also have long term plan of landing humans on the mars as well and even settle there as well. However, these moon landings and settlements will help much in learning and development of equipment, vehicles to go and settle on the other celestial bodies, like mars.
Private space agencies like SpaceX are also working on building, rockets, rocket boosters and spaceships with the aim to transport humans to mars and back. In this regard SpaceX is in research, development and testing phase in order to develop spaceship called Starship. Starship will be capable of transporting hundreds, if not thousands, of people to mars, moon and even beyond, much further in the future.