It’s the first Moon mission in over 50 years
NASA have confirmed the exact date they plan to launch humans back into space to the Moon, in the first mission to the satellite planet since 1972.
Artemis II will see NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency, be launched into space on February 6.
They will travel around the Moon on the 10-day mission, before returning to Earth.
Although they are not due to set foot on the Moon, the mission is due to pave the way for Artemis III, which will see man set foot on the moon in 2027.
Artemis II will be forced to launch in a narrow window of time due to the orbits of the Earth and Moon.
The launch will happen at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, the same place where the Apollo missions launched.
Backup launch dates are February 7, 8, 10, and 11, in case things should not go to plan on February 6.
The launch marks the first time in 53 years that humans have left low-Earth orbit.
Crew will first orbit Earth as a test to life-support equipment, before going on to the Moon and then using the Earth’s gravity to slingshot back down.
An Orion spacecraft is being used for the mission, with NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket system carrying the launch.
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