As of this writing, the launch of Artemis II is scheduled for 12:24 a.m. on April 2, Swiss time. Eight minutes after the main engines of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket ignite, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, will be in space. The goal: lunar orbit.

The Artemis II mission aims to set a new record for humanity, surpassing the maximum distance from Earth ever reached by a human: approximately 400,000 km. Not only that, but for 30–50 minutes, the four astronauts will be the loneliest humans in the universe, as communications will be temporarily interrupted during the passage behind the Moon. 

Artemis II mission step-by-step (Credits: ESA)

Beyond the new frontiers it will reach, Artemis II plays a fundamental role in the main objectives of this new era of space exploration, which aim to return humans to the Moon and eventually to Mars.

Federica Trudu, senior lecturer in Physics and Numerical Mathematics at the Department of Innovative Technologies at SUPSI and ZeroG-Nauta, helps us understand the importance of this mission and its future implications.

Beyond being a return to the Moon, how important is Artemis II?
“The Artemis II mission is a true engineering marvel, a concentration of cutting-edge technologies working together to bring humans back near the lunar surface. On the one hand, it will be the natural continuation of Artemis I, which in 2022 demonstrated that the Space Launch System rocket and the Orion capsule can reach and fly past the Moon, and return to Earth by passing through its atmosphere. Artemis II must also confirm the safety of the heat shield during reentry at 40,000 km/h, facing temperatures of approximately 2,800° Celsius—about half that of the Sun’s surface. The mission will take four astronauts “where no one has gone before.” Astronauts, not mannequins, who emit heat, moisture, carbon dioxide, and produce biological waste: that is why it is the most critical mission of the entire Artemis program. 

“Artemis II will be tasked with testing equipment—some of which was already tested during Artemis I—without which a human could not survive outside Earth’s atmosphere. To name a few, the life support system (LSS) managed by the CAMRAS (Carbon Dioxide and Moisture Removal Amine Swing) system and the AstroRad protective vest will be fundamental. As for the VLS, all attention will be focused on carbon dioxide management via CAMRAS. This device performs a dual function: it filters CO2 from the air and regulates humidity to prevent dangerous condensation. It uses resin beds containing amines, nitrogen-based chemical compounds that bind CO2 molecules; thanks to the “swing” mechanism, while one bed cleans the air in the cabin, the other is exposed to the vacuum of space to regenerate, expelling impurities outward.”

“Most of the controls on Orion are automated; however, the astronauts will test the ability to manually maneuver the capsule in the vicinity of another celestial body, which is essential for future docking with landers. Rounding out the picture will be the debut of laser communication, capable of transmitting 4K video almost instantly, and the use of a “free return” trajectory (the famous figure-8 path) that harnesses lunar gravity like a boomerang to bring the crew home even in the event of engine failure—a maneuver also tested during Artemis I. Artemis II will also need to confirm the safety of the heat shield during reentry at 40,000 km/h, facing temperatures roughly half that of the Sun’s surface.”

The (cramped) spaces inside the Orion. (Image Credit: Mark Sowa - NASA - JSC)

“Finally, a crucial aspect is the psychological one. In this highly technologically dense environment, the four astronauts will have to manage extreme cohabitation: with only 9 cubic meters of free space, privacy vanishes and every movement requires precise coordination. To mitigate isolation, the laser system will ensure constant video contact with families, reminding us that the greatest challenge remains the human one” (we’ve already discussed this here). 

Why is the Moon the gateway to Mars?
“The Moon serves as the essential training ground for future missions to Mars, as it would be unthinkable to undertake a journey to the Red Planet without first having tested and refined the technologies in an environment closer to home. This preparation is necessary to overcome unprecedented logistical challenges, such as the extraction of resources directly on site (ISRU, In-Situ Resource Utilization). Learning to extract water and oxygen from lunar regolith is the dress rehearsal for ensuring astronauts’ self-sufficiency; furthermore, lunar dust is rich in metals such as iron and titanium, which can be used with 3D printers to build permanent bases without transporting materials from Earth.”

“In parallel with the strategic shift that led to the suspension of construction of the Lunar Gateway orbital station, NASA announced the development of the Space Reactor-1 Freedom spacecraft. The Moon offers the ideal environment for testing these nuclear thermal propulsion engines, which are necessary to shorten transit times to Mars and reduce radiation exposure. In this new vision, the components already built for the orbital station will not be lost: modules such as HALO (Habitation and Logistics Outpost) will be converted into living quarters directly on the surface, harnessing the constant sunlight of the “Peaks of Eternal Light” at the South Pole to power the entire outpost.” 

Artemis II to the Moon: Launch to Splashdown (NASA Mission Animation) 

Fifty years ago, space exploration was closely tied to the rivalry between the Western Bloc and the Soviet Bloc. Technological progress served (in part) as a propaganda tool. In the current context, what motivations underlie the return to the Moon?
"The Artemis II mission represents not only a technological milestone but the opening of a new geopolitical and economic frontier. At stake is the ability to establish a permanent presence at the lunar South Pole, making our satellite the first logistical outpost for interplanetary routes."

"However, we operate within a fragmented regulatory framework. Although the 1967 Outer Space Treaty prohibits national appropriation, subsequent attempts to regulate resources have remained unenforced. Today, the game is being played out through new coalitions: on one side, the Artemis Accords, involving the United States, via NASA, and 60 other nations; on the other, the China-Russia bloc with the ILRS (International Lunar Research Station) project. In conclusion, the return to the Moon marks the transition from an era of pure exploration to one of actual settlement. In the absence of an updated universal code, space law is taking shape through new coalitions, which are introducing novel concepts such as “safety zones” for resource extraction. Participating in these missions today is therefore not just a scientific challenge, but a strategic move to secure a seat at the table where the economic and political rules governing our future in the solar system will be written". 

Cover image: The full moon rises over the fully assembled Artemis II launch tower on Launch Pad 39B (Image Credit: NASA/Sam Lott)