NASA's Upcoming Lunar Mission: Artemis II - RICE IAS

Why In the News?

Recently, the Artemis II mission is poised for a historic liftoff, with NASA targeting a launch window opening on February 6, 2026. This mission signifies the first time in over 50 years—since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972-that humans will venture beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) toward the lunar vicinity.

About the Mission:

Operational Goal: Artemis II is NASA’s first human spaceflight mission under the Artemis program, featuring a lunar flyby (without landing) to evaluate deep-space systems with astronauts on board the Orion spacecraft.
Trajectory: The mission will utilize a Hybrid Free-Return Trajectory. Orion will travel around the far side of the Moon, using lunar gravity to “slingshot” back to Earth without a major propulsion burn.
Launch vehicle: Space Launch System (SLS) Block 1.
Duration: A 10-day round trip covering approximately 685,000 miles.
International Partners: ESA (Europe), JAXA (Japan), and CSA (Canada).
Fuel Source: The SLS core stage utilizes Cryogenic Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) and Liquid Oxygen (LOX).
Final Phase: High-speed atmospheric reentry at 25,000 mph, concluding with a precision splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
Re-entry Dynamics: Orion will enter Earth’s atmosphere at 25,000 mph (Mach 32), testing the resilience of its advanced heat shield against temperatures reaching 2,800°C.

[rev_slider alias="slider-2"][/rev_slider]

Technological Pillars:

Space Launch System (SLS): Specifically designed as the only vehicle capable of launching the Orion spacecraft, astronauts, and large cargo directly to the Moon in a single launch.
Orion Spacecraft: A partially reusable crew module paired with the European Service Module (ESM). The ESM is a critical international contribution (ESA) providing power, propulsion, and life-support consumables (air/water).
Optical Communications (O2O): Artemis II will debut Laser-based communication, enabling high-definition data transmission from lunar distances- a jump from traditional radio frequency (RF) systems.

Strategic Roadmap:

Artemis III (Target 2027-28): Scheduled to land the first woman and first person of colour at the Lunar South Pole—a region selected for its water-ice deposits in “Permanently Shadowed Regions” (PSRs).
Lunar Gateway: A modular space station in Near-Rectilinear Halo Orbit (NRHO). It will serve as a staging post for surface missions and a precursor for crewed Mars expeditions.
Artemis Accords: A US-led international framework for peaceful space exploration. India became a signatory in 2023, facilitating ISRO-NASA synergy in lunar and planetary science.

Artemis Phase I to IV

The Artemis program follows a structured progression to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon.

Mission	Primary Objective	Status/Timeline
Artemis I	Uncrewed test of SLS and Orion around the Moon.	Completed (2022)
Artemis II	First crewed lunar flyby (no landing).	Feb 2026 (Target)
Artemis III	Crewed landing at the Lunar South Pole.	Planned (2027-28)
Artemis IV	Delivery of the Lunar Gateway habitat modules.	Future Mission

With respect to the orbital mechanics of the Artemis II mission, consider the following statements:
I.	Artemis II is NASA’s first crewed Artemis mission, performing a lunar flyby to test Orion’s deep-space systems.
II.	Space Launch System (SLS) the sole rocket designed to launch Orion, astronauts, and heavy cargo to the Moon in one mission.
III.	The mission profile involves a high-speed atmospheric reentry at speeds exceeding Mach 50.

Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) I and II only 
(b) II and III only
(c) I and III only
(d) I, II, and III
Answer: (A)
Explanation:
Statement I is correct: Artemis II is NASA’s first human spaceflight mission under the Artemis program, featuring a lunar flyby (without landing) to evaluate deep-space systems with astronauts on board the Orion spacecraft.
Statement II is correct: The SLS is the only rocket that can launch Orion, four astronauts, and heavy cargo to the Moon in one go.
Statement III is incorrect: Orion will enter Earth's atmosphere at 25,000 mph (Mach 32), testing the resilience of its advanced heat shield against temperatures reaching 2,800°C.