Humans will return to the Moon in 2026 with NASA's Artemis II mission.

More than five decades after the last Apollo mission, humanity is about to return to the Moon. NASA confirmed that the mission Artemis II, scheduled to take place early February 2026This will be the first crewed flight to the lunar environment since 1972, marking a new chapter in space exploration. Although it does not include a landing on the surface, the mission is considered fundamental to preparing for the definitive return of humans to the lunar surface in the coming years.

The Artemis program is part of NASA's strategy to establish a sustainable presence on the Moon and, in the future, pave the way for crewed missions to Mars. Artemis II will be the first major proof that the agency has regained control of human flight technologies in deep space.

How will the Artemis II mission work?

A Artemis II This will be the second mission of the program. Artemis and the first to take astronauts into orbit around the Moon. Unlike Artemis IThe first mission, scheduled for 2022 without a crew, will feature four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft, launched by the powerful Orion rocket. Space Launch System (SLS) (Space Launch System, in Portuguese).

The mission's trajectory will be a circumlunar one, in which the spacecraft makes a large arc around the Moon—including passing by its far side (where radio and other transmissions will be interrupted for a few minutes)—before returning to Earth. The flight is expected to last approximately [duration not specified]. 10 days, a period during which essential systems for navigation, communication, life support, and radiation protection in deep space will be tested.

The main objective is not scientific, but operational. NASA wants to validate all the systems that will be used in future lunar landing missions.

Human return to the Moon is only possible thanks to two key components of the Artemis program. The first is the rocket. Space Launch System (SLS)The most powerful rocket ever built by NASA, it was specifically designed for deep exploration missions, capable of carrying cargo and crews beyond low Earth orbit, something that commercial rockets still cannot do in a manned manner.

And then we have the Orion spaceship, a capsule responsible for safely transporting astronauts to the lunar environment and bringing them back to Earth. It features modern life support systems, reinforced heat shields for atmospheric reentry, and enough space for long-duration missions.

Before launch, NASA conducts a series of rigorous tests, including trials with real fuel and full countdown simulations. Although it does not include a landing, Artemis II is considered the most critical mission of the program so far. Its success will confirm whether NASA is truly ready to send humans back to the lunar surface.

Among the main objectives are:

• Testing human performance in lunar flight after decades.
• Validation of communication and navigation in deep space.
• Assessment of radiation levels outside Earth's orbit
• And preparing procedures for longer missions.

Only after the success of Artemis II will it be possible to safely move forward with Artemis III, a mission that should take astronauts back to the surface of the Moon, possibly to the lunar south pole region, rich in water ice. Each step taken by the different missions will help build valuable knowledge about the future of space exploration.

Historic crew

The crew of Artemis II has already been announced and represents an important milestone in the history of space exploration:

• reid wiseman (NASA), mission commander
• Victor glover (NASA), pilot — will be the first black astronaut traveling to the lunar environment
• Christina Koch (NASA), mission specialist — will be first woman to participate in a lunar mission
• Jeremy Hanson (Canadian Space Agency – CSA), mission specialist — the first Canadian to go to the Moon

Beyond its historical symbolism, the crew's composition reinforces the international and inclusive nature of the Artemis program, which involves several partner countries.

Likely release dates (and how to watch live)

The month of February begins surrounded by anticipation surrounding the mission. Artemis IIBefore takeoff, however, the agency still needs to overcome a crucial stage in the timeline: the so-called “"Wet dress rehearsal".

The test, which simulates the entire SLS rocket fueling process and the complete countdown, but without engine ignition, is scheduled to take place in Monday (2)NASA even considered the possibility of bringing the procedure forward for the Saturday (30)However, weather conditions at the site prevented the change, and the original plan was maintained.

With this, the agency updated the schedule and informed that the earliest possible launch window for Artemis II is now... Sunday (8), and no longer the Friday (6)as had been initially considered. The final date, however, depends directly on the performance of the Orion rocket and spacecraft during the test, a stage considered crucial before proceeding to the actual launch.

You can follow all the tests, updates, and the launch of Artemis II via the live video on the channel. NASA on Youtube:

Next missions

Returning to the Moon is not an end in itself, but a path to be built towards more ambitious goals. NASA sees the natural satellite as a strategic laboratory for testing technologies, habitats, and systems that will be essential for future missions. Mars.

Furthermore, the Artemis program takes place within the context of a renewed space race, with China and other countries investing heavily in lunar exploration. In this scenario, Artemis II represents not only a scientific advancement but also an important geopolitical move.

Conclusion

The Artemis II mission marks humanity's return to the lunar landscape, ending a hiatus of more than 50 years without manned flights beyond Earth's orbit. Even without landing on the Moon, the mission will be a watershed moment for modern space exploration.

If all goes according to plan, 2026 will be remembered as the year humanity looked back at the Moon — not as a distant goal, but as the first step toward a permanent presence beyond Earth.

Do you think humanity should invest more in space exploration? Is returning to the Moon a necessary step before reaching Mars? Leave your opinion in the comments.

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Source: Time

reviewed by Tiago Rodrigues in 31 / 01 / 2026