Artemis II Prepares for the Moon

“The Artemis II crew represents thousands of people working tirelessly to bring us to the stars. This is their crew, this is our crew, this is humanity’s crew. NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Hammock Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, each has their own story, but, together, they represent our creed: E pluribus unum – out of many, one. Together, we are ushering in a new era of exploration for a new generation of star sailors and dreamers – the Artemis Generation.” – Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator

Earlier this week the four astronauts who will venture around the Moon on Artemis II–the first crewed mission on NASA’s path to establishing a long-term presence at the Moon for science and exploration through Artemis–were announced: Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Hammock Koch, and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen. Together, they will work as a team to execute an ambitious set of demonstrations during the flight test.

The approximately 10-day Artemis II flight test will launch on the powerful Space Launch System rocket, prove the Orion spacecraft’s life-support systems, and validate the capabilities and techniques needed for humans to live and work in deep space.

The flight, set to build upon the successful uncrewed Artemis I mission completed in December, will set the stage for the first woman and first person of color on the Moon through the Artemis program, paving the way for future long-term human exploration missions to the Moon, and eventually Mars.

Webb Space Telescope Industry Team Wins Major Award – The National Aeronautic Association has bestowed the Robert J. Collier Trophy on the team behind the James Webb Space Telescope, acknowledging the telescope’s place in aerospace history as it nears its one-year anniversary of operations later this year.Learn More

Webb Captures Stunning Image of Ice Giant – Following in the footsteps of the Neptune image released in 2022, the James Webb Space Telescope has taken a stunning image of the planet Uranus. The new image features dramatic rings as well as bright features in the planet’s atmosphere. The Webb data demonstrates the observatory’s unprecedented sensitivity for the faintest dusty rings, which have only ever been imaged by two other facilities: the Voyager 2 spacecraft as it flew past the planet in 1986, and the Keck Observatory with advanced adaptive optics.Take a Closer Look

Digital Teams Nominated for Nine 2022 Webby Awards – From the Artemis I launch to the Moon to the Double Asteroid Redirection Test to the first images from the James Webb Space Telescope, our digital team’s success is one of the best examples of how every day NASA fulfills its mission to explore for the benefit of all and inspire the world through discovery. These efforts in digital communications have been recognized with nominations for nine Webby Awards, the highest honor for online communications. Through April 21, you can vote for nominees to receive the Webbys’ People’s Voice award.Discover the Nominees

First Space-based Instrument to Monitor Air Pollutants Launches – Early Friday morning the Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) instrument lifted off on its way to geostationary orbit. TEMPO’s observations will dramatically improve the scientific data record on air pollution – including ozone, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and formaldehyde – not only over the continental United States, but also Canada, Mexico, Cuba, the Bahamas, and part of the island of Hispaniola.Learn More

New Podcast: Suiting up for Space – Spacesuits are more than just garments – in the airless vacuum of space or on the freezing surface of the moon, they keep astronauts alive. Explore how NASA engineers like Amy Ross and Paromita Mitra have contributed to the development of the next generation of spacesuits.Listen Now

April 2023 Skywatching Highlights – What’s Up for April? Spot Mercury after sunset early in the month, follow the Moon’s visits with the planets, and catch a shooting star when the Lyrid meteors peak on April 23.Download Daily Guides