Artemis II Commander, NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman provides remarks at a Moon tree dedication ceremony, Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at the United States Capitol in Washington. The American Sweetgum tree planted on the southwestern side of the Capitol, was grown from a seed that was flown around the Moon during the Artemis I mission. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Artemis II Commander, NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman provides remarks at a Moon tree dedication ceremony, Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at the United States Capitol in Washington. The American Sweetgum tree planted on the southwestern side of the Capitol, was grown from a seed that was flown around the Moon during the Artemis I mission. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Artemis II Commander, NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman provides remarks at a Moon tree dedication ceremony, Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at the United States Capitol in Washington. The American Sweetgum tree planted on the southwestern side of the Capitol, was grown from a seed that was flown around the Moon during the Artemis I mission. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Artemis II Commander, NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman provides remarks at a Moon tree dedication ceremony, Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at the United States Capitol in Washington. The American Sweetgum tree planted on the southwestern side of the Capitol, was grown from a seed that was flown around the Moon during the Artemis I mission. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy speaks with Artemis II NASA astronaut Victor Glover, Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

The Artemis II crew, NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, and Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, pose for a photo after a Moon tree dedication ceremony, Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at the United States Capitol in Washington. The American Sweetgum tree planted on the southwestern side of the Capitol, was grown from a seed that was flown around the Moon during the Artemis I mission. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Artemis II Commander, NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman provides remarks at a Moon tree dedication ceremony, Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at the United States Capitol in Washington. The American Sweetgum tree planted on the southwestern side of the Capitol, was grown from a seed that was flown around the Moon during the Artemis I mission. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Artemis II astronaut Victor Glover greets U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA) at a Moon tree dedication ceremony, Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at the United States Capitol in Washington. The American Sweetgum tree planted on the southwestern side of the Capitol, was grown from a seed that was flown around the Moon during the Artemis I mission. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Artemis II NASA astronaut Christina Koch greets members of the Artemis launch team inside Firing Room 1 in the Launch Control at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Aug. 7, 2023. Koch and fellow Artemis II astronauts Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen are at the center to meet workers and tour facilities. The approximately 10-day Artemis II flight will test NASA’s foundational human deep space exploration capabilities, the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, for the first time with astronauts and will pave the way for lunar surface missions, including landing the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon.

Artemis launch team members listen to Artemis II astronauts during their visit to Firing Room 1 in the Launch Control Center at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Aug. 7, 2023. Artemis II NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Reid Wiseman, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen are at the center to greet workers and tour facilities. The approximately 10-day Artemis II flight will test NASA’s foundational human deep space exploration capabilities, the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, for the first time with astronauts and will pave the way for lunar surface missions, including landing the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon.

NASA astronaut Christina Koch speaks with members of the agency’s Artemis II Landing and Recovery team and partners from the Department of Defense on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, during a visit by the Artemis II crew to the facility.

Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy, center, speaks with Artemis II astronauts, from right to left, NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch (not pictured), and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

jsc2024e040812 (June 7, 2024) --- Juliane Gross, curation lead for the Artemis Internal Science Team, leads a geology lesson for the Artemis II crew at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. Artemis II crew members pictured are, from left, Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronauts Jenni Gibbons and Jeremey Hansen, along with NASA astronauts Victor Glover, and Christina Koch.

Artemis II NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch of NASA and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen view the core stage for the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket at the agency’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans on Nov. 16. The three astronauts, along with NASA’s Victor Glover, will launch atop the rocket stage to venture around the Moon on Artemis II, the first crewed flight for Artemis. The SLS core stage, towering at 212 feet, is the backbone of the Moon rocket and includes two massive propellant tanks that collectively hold 733,000 gallons of propellant to help power the stage’s four RS-25 engines. NASA is working to land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration, along with Orion and the Gateway in orbit around the Moon. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single mission.

Artemis II NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch of NASA and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen view the core stage for the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket at the agency’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans on Nov. 16. The three astronauts, along with NASA’s Victor Glover, will launch atop the rocket stage to venture around the Moon on Artemis II, the first crewed flight for Artemis. The SLS core stage, towering at 212 feet, is the backbone of the Moon rocket and includes two massive propellant tanks that collectively hold 733,000 gallons of propellant to help power the stage’s four RS-25 engines. NASA is working to land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration, along with Orion and the Gateway in orbit around the Moon. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single mission.

Artemis II NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch of NASA and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen view the core stage for the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket at the agency’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans on Nov. 16. The three astronauts, along with NASA’s Victor Glover, will launch atop the rocket stage to venture around the Moon on Artemis II, the first crewed flight for Artemis. The SLS core stage, towering at 212 feet, is the backbone of the Moon rocket and includes two massive propellant tanks that collectively hold 733,000 gallons of propellant to help power the stage’s four RS-25 engines. NASA is working to land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration, along with Orion and the Gateway in orbit around the Moon. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single mission.

Artemis II NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch of NASA and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen view the core stage for the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket at the agency’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans on Nov. 16. The three astronauts, along with NASA’s Victor Glover, will launch atop the rocket stage to venture around the Moon on Artemis II, the first crewed flight for Artemis. The SLS core stage, towering at 212 feet, is the backbone of the Moon rocket and includes two massive propellant tanks that collectively hold 733,000 gallons of propellant to help power the stage’s four RS-25 engines. NASA is working to land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration, along with Orion and the Gateway in orbit around the Moon. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single mission.

Artemis II NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch of NASA and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen view the core stage for the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket at the agency’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans on Nov. 16. The three astronauts, along with NASA’s Victor Glover, will launch atop the rocket stage to venture around the Moon on Artemis II, the first crewed flight for Artemis. The SLS core stage, towering at 212 feet, is the backbone of the Moon rocket and includes two massive propellant tanks that collectively hold 733,000 gallons of propellant to help power the stage’s four RS-25 engines. NASA is working to land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration, along with Orion and the Gateway in orbit around the Moon. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single mission.

Artemis II NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch of NASA and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen view the core stage for the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket at the agency’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans on Nov. 16. The three astronauts, along with NASA’s Victor Glover, will launch atop the rocket stage to venture around the Moon on Artemis II, the first crewed flight for Artemis. The SLS core stage, towering at 212 feet, is the backbone of the Moon rocket and includes two massive propellant tanks that collectively hold 733,000 gallons of propellant to help power the stage’s four RS-25 engines. NASA is working to land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration, along with Orion and the Gateway in orbit around the Moon. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single mission.

From left to right, Artemis II crew members, NASA astronauts Victor Glover and Reid Wiseman, NASA Associate Administrator, Office of STEM Engagement, Mike Kincaid, NASA Deputy Associate Administrator Casey Swails, NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, and Artemis II crew members NASA astronaut Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, pose for a photo after a Moon tree dedication ceremony, Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at the United States Capitol in Washington. The American Sweetgum tree planted on the southwestern side of the Capitol, was grown from a seed that was flown around the Moon during the Artemis I mission. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

The Artemis II crew, NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, left, Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, as well as NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Victor Glover, pose for a group photograph with members of the agency’s Artemis II Landing and Recovery team and partners from the Department of Defense Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Artemis II NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, in the center, and Jeremy Hansen, at right, CSA (Canadian Space Agency) Artemis II astronaut, talk with members of the Exploration Ground Systems team inside the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building during a visit to the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Aug. 7, 2023. The approximately 10-day Artemis II flight will test NASA’s foundational human deep space exploration capabilities, the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, for the first time with astronauts and will pave the way for lunar surface missions, including landing the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon.

NASA’s Artemis II mission Commander Reid Wiseman visits the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on March 15, 2024. Along with fellow crew member, Artemis II Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, the astronauts toured the facility with their families and viewed the Orion crew module that will take them, along with Victor Glover, pilot; and Christina Hammock Koch, mission specialist; around the Moon and back during the Artemis II mission.

CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut and Artemis II backup crew member, Jenni Gibbons, participates in geology field training in Iceland.

From left, the Artemis II crew, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, as well as Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, pose for a group photograph on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, inside the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Behind them is the (SLS) Space Launch System core stage, which in the coming months will be prepared for integration atop mobile launcher 1 ahead of the Artemis II launch.

Artemis II NASA astronauts were at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Aug. 7, 2023. CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen talks with members of the Artemis launch team inside Firing Room 1 of the Launch Control Center. Hansen and fellow Artemis II astronauts Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Reid Wiseman are at the center to meet workers and tour facilities. The approximately 10-day Artemis II flight will test NASA’s foundational human deep space exploration capabilities, the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, for the first time with astronauts and will pave the way for lunar surface missions, including landing the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon.

Artemis II astronauts visit the Artemis launch team inside Firing Room 1 in the Launch Control Center at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Aug. 7, 2023. In front, from left are NASA astronauts Victor Glover (partially hidden), Christina Koch, and Reid Wiseman, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The approximately 10-day Artemis II flight will test NASA’s foundational human deep space exploration capabilities, the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, for the first time with astronauts and will pave the way for lunar surface missions, including landing the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon.

Artemis II astronauts visit the Artemis launch team inside Firing Room 1 in the Launch Control Center at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Aug. 7, 2023. In front, from left are CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, and NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Reid Wiseman. The approximately 10-day Artemis II flight will test NASA’s foundational human deep space exploration capabilities, the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, for the first time with astronauts and will pave the way for lunar surface missions, including landing the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon.

Artemis II astronauts pose for a photograph with members of the Artemis launch team inside Firing Room 1 in the Launch Control Center at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Aug. 7, 2023. In front, kneeling from left are NASA astronauts Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Reid Wiseman, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The approximately 10-day Artemis II flight will test NASA’s foundational human deep space exploration capabilities, the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, for the first time with astronauts and will pave the way for lunar surface missions, including landing the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon.

In front, from left, Andre Douglas, NASA’s Artemis II backup crew member; CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jenni Gibbons, Artemis II backup crew member; NASA astronaut Christina Koch, Artemis II mission specialist; NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, Artemis II commander; and Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II mission specialist pose, for a photo with NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems team during a visit to Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. For Artemis II, four astronauts will venture around the Moon, the first crewed mission on NASA’s path to establishing a long-term presence for science and exploration through Artemis.

In front, from left, Andre Douglas, NASA’s Artemis II backup crew member; CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jenni Gibbons, Artemis II backup crew member; NASA astronaut Christina Koch, Artemis II mission specialist; NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, Artemis II commander; and Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II mission specialist pose, for a photo with NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems team during a visit to Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. For Artemis II, four astronauts will venture around the Moon, the first crewed mission on NASA’s path to establishing a long-term presence for science and exploration through Artemis.

The Artemis II crew, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, far left, and Christina Koch, as well as NASA astronaut Victor Glover and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, far right, and pose for a group photograph with employees from NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Behind them is one of the aft assemblies, or bottom portions of the solid rocket boosters for the agency’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket, which will be lifted atop mobile launcher 1 as the first booster segments stacked for the Artemis II Moon rocket.

The Orion spacecraft for NASA’s Artemis II mission is photographed inside the Final Assembly and System Testing cell at the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday, March 15, 2024. Four astronauts will venture around the Moon in the Orion spacecraft 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 the Artemis campaign.

The Orion spacecraft for NASA’s Artemis II mission is photographed inside the Final Assembly and System Testing cell at the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday, March 15, 2024. Four astronauts will venture around the Moon in the Orion spacecraft 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 the Artemis campaign.

The Orion spacecraft for NASA’s Artemis II mission is photographed inside the Final Assembly and System Testing cell at the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday, March 15, 2024. Four astronauts will venture around the Moon in the Orion spacecraft 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 the Artemis campaign.

The Orion spacecraft for NASA’s Artemis II mission is photographed inside the Final Assembly and System Testing cell at the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday, March 15, 2024. Four astronauts will venture around the Moon in the Orion spacecraft 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 the Artemis campaign.

Artemis II NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman greets Exploration Ground Systems team members inside the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building during a visit to the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Aug. 7, 2023. The approximately 10-day Artemis II flight will test NASA’s foundational human deep space exploration capabilities, the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, for the first time with astronauts and will pave the way for lunar surface missions, including landing the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon.

Artemis II NASA astronaut Christina Koch greets Exploration Ground Systems team members inside the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building during a visit to the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Aug. 7, 2023. The approximately 10-day Artemis II flight will test NASA’s foundational human deep space exploration capabilities, the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, for the first time with astronauts and will pave the way for lunar surface missions, including landing the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon.

Artemis II NASA astronaut Victor Glover is seen with Exploration Ground Systems workers during a visit to the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Aug. 7, 2023. The approximately 10-day Artemis II flight will test NASA’s foundational human deep space exploration capabilities, the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, for the first time with astronauts and will pave the way for lunar surface missions, including landing the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon.

NASA astronaut and Artemis II backup crew member Andre Douglas uses a rock hammer and chisel to break a sample off a large boulder during a geology field training exercise in Iceland.

Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy, right, meets with Artemis II astronauts, from right to left, NASA astronauts Christina Koch, Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy, right, meets with Artemis II astronauts, from right to left, NASA astronauts Christina Koch, Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy, center, meets with Artemis II astronauts, from right to left, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, , and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy, right, meets with Artemis II astronauts, from right to left, NASA astronauts Christina Koch, Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

From left to right, U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA), Artemis II crew members, NASA astronauts Victor Glover and Reid Wiseman, U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK), U.S. Rep. Harold “Hal” Rogers (R-KY), Artemis II crew members NASA astronaut Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, U.S. Rep. Charles Albert "Dutch" Ruppersberger III (D-MD), NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, and Minister, Congressional, Public, and Intergovernmental Affairs, Embassy of Canada, Carrie Goodge O'Brien, pose for a photo after a Moon tree dedication ceremony, Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at the United States Capitol in Washington. The American Sweetgum tree planted on the southwestern side of the Capitol, was grown from a seed that was flown around the Moon during the Artemis I mission. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Artemis II astronauts pose for a photograph with members of the Artemis launch team inside Firing Room 1 in the Launch Control Center at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Aug. 7, 2023. In front, kneeling from left are NASA astronauts Victor Glover and Reid Wiseman, CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, and NASA astronaut Christina Koch. Standing behind them, second from left is Artemis Launch Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson. The approximately 10-day Artemis II flight will test NASA’s foundational human deep space exploration capabilities, the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, for the first time with astronauts and will pave the way for lunar surface missions, including landing the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon.

Artemis II astronauts visit NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Aug. 7, 2023. From left, are CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, and NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman. Behind them is NASA astronaut Victor Glover. They are with Exploration Ground Systems team members in the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building. The approximately 10-day Artemis II flight will test NASA’s foundational human deep space exploration capabilities, the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, for the first time with astronauts and will pave the way for lunar surface missions, including landing the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon.

Artemis II astronauts visit NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Aug. 7, 2023. In front, from left, are NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch, CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, and NASA astronaut Victor Glover in the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building. Behind them are Exploration Ground Systems team members. The approximately 10-day Artemis II flight will test NASA’s foundational human deep space exploration capabilities, the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, for the first time with astronauts and will pave the way for lunar surface missions, including landing the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon.

Artemis II astronauts visit the Artemis launch team inside Firing Room 1 in the Launch Control Center at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Aug. 7, 2023. In front, from left are CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, and NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Reid Wiseman. At far right is Artemis Launch Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson. The approximately 10-day Artemis II flight will test NASA’s foundational human deep space exploration capabilities, the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, for the first time with astronauts and will pave the way for lunar surface missions, including landing the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon.

From left, the Artemis II crew, Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, along with NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Victor Glover pose for a photograph in front of the altitude chamber on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, inside the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The altitude chamber simulates deep space vacuum conditions, and the testing will provide additional data to augment data gained during testing earlier this summer. The Orion spacecraft will carry the crew on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back for the Artemis II test flight.

Artemis II astronauts visit NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Aug. 7, 2023. In front, from left, are NASA astronauts Victor Glover and Reid Wiseman, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen with the Exploration Ground Systems team beneath the mobile launcher 1. The approximately 10-day Artemis II flight will test NASA’s foundational human deep space exploration capabilities, the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, for the first time with astronauts and will pave the way for lunar surface missions, including landing the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon.

NASA astronaut Victor Glover views the core stage of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket that will help power Artemis II at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans July 15. Glover will pilot Artemis II, the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis campaign. Crews moved the 212-foot-tall core stage with its four RS-25 engines to Building 110 at NASA Michoud prior to rolling it out to NASA’s Pegasus barge July 16 for delivery to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The Artemis II crew, NASA astronauts Victor Glover, left, and Christina Koch, Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, and Reid Wiseman, right, view operations on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Jeremy Hansen, at left, CSA (Canadian Space Agency) Artemis II astronaut, greets members of the Exploration Ground Systems team inside the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building during a visit at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Aug. 7, 2023. The approximately 10-day Artemis II flight will test NASA’s foundational human deep space exploration capabilities, the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, for the first time with astronauts and will pave the way for lunar surface missions, including landing the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon.

From left, CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen; Andre Douglas, NASA’s Artemis II backup crew member; a member of Exploration Ground Systems (EGS); Christina Koch, Artemis II mission specialist; and CSA astronaut Jenni Gibbons, Artemis II backup crew member, tour the Artemis III engine section inside the Space Systems Processing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. Members and backup members of the Artemis II crew received updates on the mission and met with the EGS team. For Artemis II, four astronauts will venture around the Moon, the first crewed mission on NASA’s path to establishing a long-term presence for science and exploration through Artemis.

NASA astronaut and Artemis II backup crew member Andre Douglas is seen with Navy Divers of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Expeditionary Support Unit (EODESU) 1 as he and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Luca Parmitano, and NASA astronaut Deniz Burnham prepare to take part in Artemis recovery operations as part of Underway Recovery Test-12 onboard USS Somerset off the coast of California, Thursday, March 27, 2025. During the test, NASA and Department of Defense teams are practicing to ensure recovery procedures are validated as NASA plans to send the Artemis II astronauts around the Moon and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

From left, CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen and NASA astronaut Christina Koch, both Artemis II mission specialists, tour the Artemis III engine section inside the Space Systems Processing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. Members and backup members of the Artemis II crew received updates on the mission and met with members of the Exploration Ground Systems. For Artemis II, four astronauts will venture around the Moon, the first crewed mission on NASA’s path to establishing a long-term presence for science and exploration through Artemis.

The Artemis II crew, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, and backup crew members NASA astronaut Andre Douglas and CSA astronaut Jenni Gibbons trek across the Icelandic landscape during their field geology training. Credits: NASA/Robert Markowitz

NASA astronaut Victor Glover views the core stage of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket that will help power Artemis II at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans July 15. Glover will pilot Artemis II, the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis campaign. Crews moved the 212-foot-tall core stage with its four RS-25 engines to Building 110 at NASA Michoud prior to rolling it out to NASA’s Pegasus barge July 16 for delivery to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The core stage has two giant propellant tanks that collectively hold more than 733,000 gallons of super cold liquid propellant to feed the stage’s four RS-25 engines. Together, the engines produce more than 2 million pounds of thrust to help send astronauts inside NASA’s Orion spacecraft to venture around the Moon for Artemis II. NASA is working to land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration, along with the Orion spacecraft, supporting ground systems, advanced spacesuits and rovers, the Gateway in orbit around the Moon, and commercial human landing systems. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.

NASA astronaut Victor Glover views the core stage of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket that will help power Artemis II at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans July 15. Glover will pilot Artemis II, the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis campaign. Crews moved the 212-foot-tall core stage with its four RS-25 engines to Building 110 at NASA Michoud prior to rolling it out to NASA’s Pegasus barge July 16 for delivery to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The core stage has two giant propellant tanks that collectively hold more than 733,000 gallons of super cold liquid propellant to feed the stage’s four RS-25 engines. Together, the engines produce more than 2 million pounds of thrust to help send astronauts inside NASA’s Orion spacecraft to venture around the Moon for Artemis II. NASA is working to land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration, along with the Orion spacecraft, supporting ground systems, advanced spacesuits and rovers, the Gateway in orbit around the Moon, and commercial human landing systems. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.

NASA astronaut Victor Glover views the core stage of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket that will help power Artemis II at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans July 15. Glover will pilot Artemis II, the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis campaign. Crews moved the 212-foot-tall core stage with its four RS-25 engines to Building 110 at NASA Michoud prior to rolling it out to NASA’s Pegasus barge July 16 for delivery to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The core stage has two giant propellant tanks that collectively hold more than 733,000 gallons of super cold liquid propellant to feed the stage’s four RS-25 engines. Together, the engines produce more than 2 million pounds of thrust to help send astronauts inside NASA’s Orion spacecraft to venture around the Moon for Artemis II. NASA is working to land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration, along with the Orion spacecraft, supporting ground systems, advanced spacesuits and rovers, the Gateway in orbit around the Moon, and commercial human landing systems. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.

NASA astronaut Victor Glover views the core stage of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket that will help power Artemis II at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans July 15. Glover will pilot Artemis II, the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis campaign. Crews moved the 212-foot-tall core stage with its four RS-25 engines to Building 110 at NASA Michoud prior to rolling it out to NASA’s Pegasus barge July 16 for delivery to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The core stage has two giant propellant tanks that collectively hold more than 733,000 gallons of super cold liquid propellant to feed the stage’s four RS-25 engines. Together, the engines produce more than 2 million pounds of thrust to help send astronauts inside NASA’s Orion spacecraft to venture around the Moon for Artemis II. NASA is working to land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration, along with the Orion spacecraft, supporting ground systems, advanced spacesuits and rovers, the Gateway in orbit around the Moon, and commercial human landing systems. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.

NASA astronaut Victor Glover views the core stage of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket that will help power Artemis II at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans July 15. Glover will pilot Artemis II, the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis campaign. Crews moved the 212-foot-tall core stage with its four RS-25 engines to Building 110 at NASA Michoud prior to rolling it out to NASA’s Pegasus barge July 16 for delivery to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The core stage has two giant propellant tanks that collectively hold more than 733,000 gallons of super cold liquid propellant to feed the stage’s four RS-25 engines. Together, the engines produce more than 2 million pounds of thrust to help send astronauts inside NASA’s Orion spacecraft to venture around the Moon for Artemis II. NASA is working to land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration, along with the Orion spacecraft, supporting ground systems, advanced spacesuits and rovers, the Gateway in orbit around the Moon, and commercial human landing systems. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.

NASA astronaut Victor Glover views the core stage of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket that will help power Artemis II at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans July 15. Glover will pilot Artemis II, the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis campaign. Crews moved the 212-foot-tall core stage with its four RS-25 engines to Building 110 at NASA Michoud prior to rolling it out to NASA’s Pegasus barge July 16 for delivery to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The core stage has two giant propellant tanks that collectively hold more than 733,000 gallons of super cold liquid propellant to feed the stage’s four RS-25 engines. Together, the engines produce more than 2 million pounds of thrust to help send astronauts inside NASA’s Orion spacecraft to venture around the Moon for Artemis II. NASA is working to land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration, along with the Orion spacecraft, supporting ground systems, advanced spacesuits and rovers, the Gateway in orbit around the Moon, and commercial human landing systems. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.

NASA astronaut Victor Glover views the core stage of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket that will help power Artemis II at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans July 15. Glover will pilot Artemis II, the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis campaign. Crews moved the 212-foot-tall core stage with its four RS-25 engines to Building 110 at NASA Michoud prior to rolling it out to NASA’s Pegasus barge July 16 for delivery to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The core stage has two giant propellant tanks that collectively hold more than 733,000 gallons of super cold liquid propellant to feed the stage’s four RS-25 engines. Together, the engines produce more than 2 million pounds of thrust to help send astronauts inside NASA’s Orion spacecraft to venture around the Moon for Artemis II. NASA is working to land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration, along with the Orion spacecraft, supporting ground systems, advanced spacesuits and rovers, the Gateway in orbit around the Moon, and commercial human landing systems. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.

NASA astronaut Victor Glover views the core stage of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket that will help power Artemis II at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans July 15. Glover will pilot Artemis II, the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis campaign. Crews moved the 212-foot-tall core stage with its four RS-25 engines to Building 110 at NASA Michoud prior to rolling it out to NASA’s Pegasus barge July 16 for delivery to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The core stage has two giant propellant tanks that collectively hold more than 733,000 gallons of super cold liquid propellant to feed the stage’s four RS-25 engines. Together, the engines produce more than 2 million pounds of thrust to help send astronauts inside NASA’s Orion spacecraft to venture around the Moon for Artemis II. NASA is working to land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration, along with the Orion spacecraft, supporting ground systems, advanced spacesuits and rovers, the Gateway in orbit around the Moon, and commercial human landing systems. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.

NASA astronaut Victor Glover views the core stage of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket that will help power Artemis II at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans July 15. Glover will pilot Artemis II, the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis campaign. Crews moved the 212-foot-tall core stage with its four RS-25 engines to Building 110 at NASA Michoud prior to rolling it out to NASA’s Pegasus barge July 16 for delivery to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The core stage has two giant propellant tanks that collectively hold more than 733,000 gallons of super cold liquid propellant to feed the stage’s four RS-25 engines. Together, the engines produce more than 2 million pounds of thrust to help send astronauts inside NASA’s Orion spacecraft to venture around the Moon for Artemis II. NASA is working to land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration, along with the Orion spacecraft, supporting ground systems, advanced spacesuits and rovers, the Gateway in orbit around the Moon, and commercial human landing systems. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.

NASA astronaut Victor Glover views the core stage of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket that will help power Artemis II at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans July 15. Glover will pilot Artemis II, the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis campaign. Crews moved the 212-foot-tall core stage with its four RS-25 engines to Building 110 at NASA Michoud prior to rolling it out to NASA’s Pegasus barge July 16 for delivery to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The core stage has two giant propellant tanks that collectively hold more than 733,000 gallons of super cold liquid propellant to feed the stage’s four RS-25 engines. Together, the engines produce more than 2 million pounds of thrust to help send astronauts inside NASA’s Orion spacecraft to venture around the Moon for Artemis II. NASA is working to land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration, along with the Orion spacecraft, supporting ground systems, advanced spacesuits and rovers, the Gateway in orbit around the Moon, and commercial human landing systems. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.

NASA astronaut Victor Glover views the core stage of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket that will help power Artemis II at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans July 15. Glover will pilot Artemis II, the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis campaign. Crews moved the 212-foot-tall core stage with its four RS-25 engines to Building 110 at NASA Michoud prior to rolling it out to NASA’s Pegasus barge July 16 for delivery to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The core stage has two giant propellant tanks that collectively hold more than 733,000 gallons of super cold liquid propellant to feed the stage’s four RS-25 engines. Together, the engines produce more than 2 million pounds of thrust to help send astronauts inside NASA’s Orion spacecraft to venture around the Moon for Artemis II. NASA is working to land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration, along with the Orion spacecraft, supporting ground systems, advanced spacesuits and rovers, the Gateway in orbit around the Moon, and commercial human landing systems. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.

NASA astronaut Victor Glover views the core stage of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket that will help power Artemis II at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans July 15. Glover will pilot Artemis II, the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis campaign. Crews moved the 212-foot-tall core stage with its four RS-25 engines to Building 110 at NASA Michoud prior to rolling it out to NASA’s Pegasus barge July 16 for delivery to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The core stage has two giant propellant tanks that collectively hold more than 733,000 gallons of super cold liquid propellant to feed the stage’s four RS-25 engines. Together, the engines produce more than 2 million pounds of thrust to help send astronauts inside NASA’s Orion spacecraft to venture around the Moon for Artemis II. NASA is working to land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration, along with the Orion spacecraft, supporting ground systems, advanced spacesuits and rovers, the Gateway in orbit around the Moon, and commercial human landing systems. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.

NASA astronaut Victor Glover views the core stage of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket that will help power Artemis II at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans July 15. Glover will pilot Artemis II, the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis campaign. Crews moved the 212-foot-tall core stage with its four RS-25 engines to Building 110 at NASA Michoud prior to rolling it out to NASA’s Pegasus barge July 16 for delivery to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The core stage has two giant propellant tanks that collectively hold more than 733,000 gallons of super cold liquid propellant to feed the stage’s four RS-25 engines. Together, the engines produce more than 2 million pounds of thrust to help send astronauts inside NASA’s Orion spacecraft to venture around the Moon for Artemis II. NASA is working to land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration, along with the Orion spacecraft, supporting ground systems, advanced spacesuits and rovers, the Gateway in orbit around the Moon, and commercial human landing systems. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.

NASA astronaut Victor Glover views the core stage of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket that will help power Artemis II at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans July 15. Glover will pilot Artemis II, the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis campaign. Crews moved the 212-foot-tall core stage with its four RS-25 engines to Building 110 at NASA Michoud prior to rolling it out to NASA’s Pegasus barge July 16 for delivery to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The core stage has two giant propellant tanks that collectively hold more than 733,000 gallons of super cold liquid propellant to feed the stage’s four RS-25 engines. Together, the engines produce more than 2 million pounds of thrust to help send astronauts inside NASA’s Orion spacecraft to venture around the Moon for Artemis II. NASA is working to land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration, along with the Orion spacecraft, supporting ground systems, advanced spacesuits and rovers, the Gateway in orbit around the Moon, and commercial human landing systems. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.

NASA astronaut Victor Glover views the core stage of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket that will help power Artemis II at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans July 15. Glover will pilot Artemis II, the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis campaign. Crews moved the 212-foot-tall core stage with its four RS-25 engines to Building 110 at NASA Michoud prior to rolling it out to NASA’s Pegasus barge July 16 for delivery to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The core stage has two giant propellant tanks that collectively hold more than 733,000 gallons of super cold liquid propellant to feed the stage’s four RS-25 engines. Together, the engines produce more than 2 million pounds of thrust to help send astronauts inside NASA’s Orion spacecraft to venture around the Moon for Artemis II. NASA is working to land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration, along with the Orion spacecraft, supporting ground systems, advanced spacesuits and rovers, the Gateway in orbit around the Moon, and commercial human landing systems. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.

NASA astronaut Victor Glover views the core stage of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket that will help power Artemis II at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans July 15. Glover will pilot Artemis II, the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis campaign. Crews moved the 212-foot-tall core stage with its four RS-25 engines to Building 110 at NASA Michoud prior to rolling it out to NASA’s Pegasus barge July 16 for delivery to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The core stage has two giant propellant tanks that collectively hold more than 733,000 gallons of super cold liquid propellant to feed the stage’s four RS-25 engines. Together, the engines produce more than 2 million pounds of thrust to help send astronauts inside NASA’s Orion spacecraft to venture around the Moon for Artemis II. NASA is working to land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration, along with the Orion spacecraft, supporting ground systems, advanced spacesuits and rovers, the Gateway in orbit around the Moon, and commercial human landing systems. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.

NASA astronaut Victor Glover views the core stage of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket that will help power Artemis II at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans July 15. Glover will pilot Artemis II, the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis campaign. Crews moved the 212-foot-tall core stage with its four RS-25 engines to Building 110 at NASA Michoud prior to rolling it out to NASA’s Pegasus barge July 16 for delivery to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The core stage has two giant propellant tanks that collectively hold more than 733,000 gallons of super cold liquid propellant to feed the stage’s four RS-25 engines. Together, the engines produce more than 2 million pounds of thrust to help send astronauts inside NASA’s Orion spacecraft to venture around the Moon for Artemis II. NASA is working to land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration, along with the Orion spacecraft, supporting ground systems, advanced spacesuits and rovers, the Gateway in orbit around the Moon, and commercial human landing systems. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.

NASA astronaut Victor Glover views the core stage of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket that will help power Artemis II at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans July 15. Glover will pilot Artemis II, the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis campaign. Crews moved the 212-foot-tall core stage with its four RS-25 engines to Building 110 at NASA Michoud prior to rolling it out to NASA’s Pegasus barge July 16 for delivery to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The core stage has two giant propellant tanks that collectively hold more than 733,000 gallons of super cold liquid propellant to feed the stage’s four RS-25 engines. Together, the engines produce more than 2 million pounds of thrust to help send astronauts inside NASA’s Orion spacecraft to venture around the Moon for Artemis II. NASA is working to land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration, along with the Orion spacecraft, supporting ground systems, advanced spacesuits and rovers, the Gateway in orbit around the Moon, and commercial human landing systems. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.

The Artemis II crew, NASA astronauts Victor Glover, left, Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, right, pose for a group photograph with employees from NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, inside the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The Artemis II crew, NASA astronauts Victor Glover, left, Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, right, pose for a group photograph with employees from NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, inside the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The Artemis II crew, NASA astronauts Victor Glover, left, Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, right, pose for a group photograph with employees from NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, inside the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The Artemis II crew, NASA astronauts Victor Glover, left, Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, right, pose for a group photograph with employees from NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, inside the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The Artemis II crew, NASA astronauts Victor Glover, left, Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, right, pose for a group photograph with employees from NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, inside the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The Artemis II crew, NASA astronauts Victor Glover, left, Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, right, pose for a group photograph with employees from NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, inside the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The Artemis II crew, NASA astronauts Victor Glover, left, Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, right, pose for a group photograph with employees from NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, inside the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The Artemis II crew, NASA astronauts Victor Glover, left, Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, right, pose for a group photograph with employees from NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, inside the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

NASA Artemis II astronaut Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist, checks out the Orion Environmental Test Article spacecraft during his visit at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025.The Orion spacecraft was flown around the Moon and back during Artemis I on Nov. 16, 2022. Orion will carry Hansen and three other astronauts around the Moon and back during the Artemis II mission.

The launch abort motor for Orion’s launch abort system (LAS) for Artemis II, enclosed in its shipping container, arrives at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 13, 2020. The motor arrived from Northrop Grumman in Promontory, Utah, and was transported to the Launch Abort System Facility where it will undergo testing in preparation for the second Artemis mission. The launch abort motor is one of three motors on the LAS. The LAS will be positioned atop the Orion crew module and is designed to protect astronauts if a problem arises during launch by pulling the spacecraft away from a failing rocket. Artemis II will take the first humans in orbit around the Moon in the 21st century.

The launch abort motor for Orion’s launch abort system (LAS) for Artemis II, enclosed in its shipping container, arrives at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 13, 2020. The motor arrived from Northrop Grumman in Promontory, Utah, and was transported to the Launch Abort System Facility where it will undergo testing in preparation for the second Artemis mission. The launch abort motor is one of three motors on the LAS. The LAS will be positioned atop the Orion crew module and is designed to protect astronauts if a problem arises during launch by pulling the spacecraft away from a failing rocket. Artemis II will take the first humans in orbit around the Moon in the 21st century.

From left, Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, along with NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch view NASA’s Orion spacecraft as it undergoes testing inside the altitude chamber on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, inside the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The altitude chamber simulates deep space vacuum conditions, and the testing will provide additional data to augment data gained during testing earlier this summer. The Orion spacecraft will carry NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Koch, and Wiseman, as well as Hansen, on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back for the Artemis II test flight.

NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman views NASA’s Orion spacecraft as it undergoes testing inside the altitude chamber on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, inside the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The altitude chamber simulates deep space vacuum conditions, and the testing will provide additional data to augment data gained during testing earlier this summer. The Orion spacecraft will carry NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Wiseman, as well as CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back for the Artemis II test flight.

Members and backup members of the Artemis II team, along with technicians pose, for a photo with the Artemis III engine section in the background, during a visit to Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. For Artemis II, four astronauts will venture around the Moon, the first crewed mission on NASA’s path to establishing a long-term presence for science and exploration through Artemis.

From left, Artemis II backup crew members, NASA astronaut Andre Douglas and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jenni Gibbons, speak to Jeremy Graeber, assistant launch director, for NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems during a visit at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. In the background is the Orion Environmental Test Article spacecraft which was flown around the Moon and back during Artemis I on Nov. 16, 2022. Orion will carry four astronauts around the Moon and back during the Artemis II mission.

Members and backup members of the Artemis II team pose for a photo with NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems team during a visit to Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. For Artemis II, four astronauts will venture around the Moon, the first crewed mission on NASA’s path to establishing a long-term presence for science and exploration through Artemis.

Crew members and backup crew members of the Artemis II team pose for a photo with NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems and Lockheed Martin teams during a visit to Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. In the background is the Orion Environmental Test Article spacecraft which was flown around the Moon and back during Artemis I on Nov. 16, 2022. Orion will carry four astronauts around the Moon and back during the Artemis II mission.

Members and backup members of the Artemis II team pose for a photo with NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems team during a visit to Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. For Artemis II, four astronauts will venture around the Moon, the first crewed mission on NASA’s path to establishing a long-term presence for science and exploration through Artemis.

jsc2025e004073 (Jan. 30, 2025) --- Canadian Space Agency astronaut and Artemis II mission specialist Jeremy Hansen inside of the Orion spacecraft mockup during Post Insertion and Deorbit Preparation training at the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility in Houston, Texas. The crew practiced getting the Orion spacecraft configured once in orbit, how to make it habitable, and suited up in their entry pressure suits to prepare for their return from the Moon. Credit: NASA/Mark Sowa

Artemis II NASA astronaut Victor Glover, second from left, talks with NASA astronauts Deniz Burnham, center, Stan Love, second from left, Artemis II backup crew member Andre Douglas, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Luca Parmitano, left, during a familiarization walkthrough onboard USS Somerset during Underway Recovery Test 12, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. During the test, NASA and Department of Defense teams are practicing to ensure recovery procedures are validated as NASA plans to send the Artemis II astronauts around the Moon and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky

NASA astronaut and Artemis II pilot Victor Glover, right, speaks to NASA astronauts Andre Douglas and Deniz Burnham as they prepare to take part in practicing Artemis recovery procedures during Underway Recovery Test-12 onboard USS Somerset off the coast of California, Friday, March 28, 2025. During the test, NASA and Department of Defense teams are practicing to ensure recovery procedures are validated as NASA plans to send the Artemis II astronauts around the Moon and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA’s Artemis II crew members (left to right) CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, and NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman and a member of the USS San Diego pose for a photograph during Underway Recovery Test 11 (URT-11), off the coast of San Diego, California on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024. URT-11 is the eleventh in a series of Artemis recovery tests, and the first time NASA and its partners put their Artemis II recovery procedures to the test with the astronauts.

NASA astronaut Christina Hammock Koch delivers remarks during a reception with Artemis II crew members Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)

NASA astronaut Christina Hammock Koch delivers remarks during a reception with Artemis II crew members Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)