NASA Targets Early March to Send Humans Back Around the Moon
Sudhir Choudhary
February 22, 2026
WASHINGTON — NASA is targeting early March for the launch of its next crewed lunar mission, marking the first time in more than five decades that astronauts will travel around the Moon and return to Earth.
The planned mission, part of NASA’s Artemis program, aims to send four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft on a multi-day journey beyond low Earth orbit, looping around the Moon before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean. The mission would represent the first crewed lunar flyby since the final Apollo-era mission in 1972.
Artemis Program Milestone
The upcoming flight builds on the success of the uncrewed Artemis I test mission, which launched in November 2022 and completed a 25-day journey around the Moon. That mission validated the performance of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion capsule’s life-support and re-entry systems.
The upcoming crewed mission, known as Artemis II, is designed as a systems validation flight with astronauts on board. NASA officials have said the primary objective is to test navigation, propulsion, communication, and life-support systems in deep space conditions.
The four-member crew includes NASA astronauts and, for the first time on a lunar mission, a Canadian astronaut under partnership with the Canadian Space Agency.
Mission Profile and Timeline
According to NASA’s published mission overview, Artemis II will launch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard the Space Launch System rocket. After reaching orbit, the spacecraft will perform a translunar injection burn, sending Orion on a trajectory around the Moon.
The mission will not include a lunar landing. Instead, it will perform a free-return trajectory around the Moon, traveling thousands of miles beyond its far side before returning to Earth. The entire mission is expected to last approximately 10 days.
NASA officials have indicated that final launch timing depends on weather conditions and completion of preflight checks, including integrated system tests and safety certifications.
Return to Deep Space
If successful, Artemis II would represent a historic return of human spaceflight to lunar orbit after a 53-year hiatus. The last astronauts to orbit the Moon were aboard Apollo 17 in December 1972.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson previously stated that Artemis missions are intended to establish a sustainable human presence on and around the Moon, laying groundwork for future missions to Mars. Artemis III, currently scheduled for a later date, is expected to attempt a crewed lunar landing near the Moon’s south pole.
International and Strategic Significance
The Artemis program involves collaboration with multiple international partners under the Artemis Accords framework. Space agencies in Europe, Canada, and Japan are contributing hardware and expertise to future missions, including the Lunar Gateway orbital station.
The renewed focus on lunar exploration also reflects strategic competition in space, with other nations, including China, advancing their own lunar ambitions.
Outlook
NASA officials emphasize that safety remains the top priority as the agency prepares for the early March launch window. Final readiness reviews are expected in the days leading up to liftoff.
If Artemis II launches as planned, it will mark a significant step in reestablishing human presence beyond low Earth orbit and reviving deep-space exploration for a new generation.
Sources
NASA official Artemis mission briefings
NASA Kennedy Space Center launch schedule
Artemis I mission summary (NASA)
Canadian Space Agency participation announcements
Tags: NASA, Artemis II, Moon mission, Space Launch System, human spaceflight
News by The Vagabond News.
