Four astronauts are set to make history by traveling farther into space than any other human next month.
How's that for bragging rights!?
On Friday February 6, NASA is due to launch its Artemis II mission around the Moon. It will be the first crewed lunar expedition since Apollo 17 in 1972, marking 54 years since humans last traveled beyond low Earth orbit.
NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, as well as Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen will take off for roughly 10 days, flying more than 1.1 kilometers into space, around the Moon and back.
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The crew will launch aboard NASA’s towering Space Launch System (SLS) rocket at the Kennedy Space Center for a 10-day mission like no other, before the Orion spacecraft tests its upgraded heat shield during a fiery re-entry back to Earth at speeds of around 25,000 mph. Buckle up.
The mission will deploy what's known as a free-return trajectory that forms a figure-eight shape, looping around the far side of the Moon and back to Earth again.
At its farthest distance, the mission's Orion spacecraft will fly approximately 4,600 miles beyond the Moon, NASA says - farther than 'any crew has traveled before'.
It will be the first time the Orion spacecraft’s life-support systems, communications and navigation are tested with humans onboard in deep space. No pressure, then.
The ambitious mission comes four years after an the un-manned Artemis I expedition was launched. The almost 26-day feat successfully saw the spacecraft travel around the Moon and land back to Earth, with a successful splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on December 1 that year.
Now, it's time for the real deal...
What will Artemis II hope to achieve?
While Artemis II doesn’t include a lunar landing, it’s designed to pave the way for a mission that will.
NASA explains: "Several payloads will fly aboard Artemis II to expand our knowledge of space radiation, human health and behavior, and space communications.
"What we learn will help us advance future exploration efforts."
If all goes to plan, Artemis II clears the runway for Artemis III, which is expected to attempt a historic lunar landing 'no earlier' than 2027. That's only next year!
How can I watch the Artemis II launch?
NASA will be live-streaming the Artemis II launch from their YouTube channel.
You can watch it below here:
What are the mission's 'firsts'?
There are also a few major firsts set to be scored among the crew lineup.
Christina Koch is set to become the first woman to travel beyond low Earth orbit, while Victor Glover will be the first person of color to do so.
Jeremy Hansen will also make history as the first non-American astronaut on a lunar mission.
Ellie Kemp