NASA’s Bold Move to Put Humans on the Moon Begins with Artemis 2

A crewed spacecraft is set to loop around the Moon for the first time in over 50 years. Scheduled for launch on February 5, 2026, Artemis 2 marks a crucial step toward a long-term human presence on the lunar surface. The mission follows the full assembly of NASA’s lunar rocket at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Fifty-four years after Apollo 17, humanity is edging back toward the Moon. The Artemis program, led by NASA and supported by international partners, aims to establish the first sustained human presence beyond low Earth orbit. The second Artemis mission, an uncrewed lunar flyby, will test key systems ahead of a future landing.

A Milestone Launch From Florida

On November 20, 2025, the fully assembled launch system for Artemis 2 was unveiled at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. According to NASA, the mission will carry four astronauts, three Americans and one Canadian, on a ten-day journey around the Moon. This will be the first crewed flight near the Moon since 1972.

The astronauts will fly aboard Orion, NASA’s deep space capsule, sitting atop the Space Launch System (SLS), a towering rocket roughly as tall as a 30-story building. The mission objective is straightforward: orbit the Moon and return safely.

But every component of the flight is intended as a rehearsal for Artemis 3, which will attempt a crewed lunar landing. Its success would demonstrate that humans can once again travel beyond low Earth orbit and do so using systems that will support future lunar missions.

European Industry Takes a Leading Role

The Artemis program is not just a NASA venture. Several European nations are playing critical roles, particularly through the European Space Agency (ESA). The Orion capsule includes a European-built service module that supplies propulsion, power, and life support. This part of the spacecraft was manufactured with the help of teams in Brême, Germany.

Other European contributions include pressurized modules designed for future lunar habitats. In Turin, Italy, aerospace company Thales Alenia Space is developing parts of the infrastructure that could support astronauts on the Moon. In Escalquens, near Toulouse, engineers are also working on essential components for upcoming Artemis missions.

“We would like to thank our customer ESA for continuing to place their trust in our ability to build Europe’s two main contributions to the lunar space station… Through our contributions to the ISS, the Axiom commercial space station, and now the lunar space station, we are expanding the possibilities in this field, not only in terms of technology, but also for the safety and comfort of astronauts,” said Hervé Derrey, the company’s chief executive.

Almost There… But Not Quite

Although Artemis 2 will not land, it represents a decisive move toward lunar settlement. Living on the Moon, even temporarily, comes with a host of scientific and technical challenges. As the U.S. Space Agency reported, one of the key objectives is to learn how to sustain life in an extremely hostile environment.

Astronauts will have to face temperatures ranging from scorching heat to freezing cold, as well as exposure to radiation and abrasive lunar dust. Any base would need to be self-sufficient in energy, oxygen, and communication systems. These elements are still in development and will be tested in stages throughout the Artemis missions.

The program’s eventual goal is to set up a base near the Moon’s south pole, where ice may be trapped in permanently shadowed craters. That ice could serve as a local source of water and, through electrolysis, even fuel.