Picture this: you're standing on your balcony on a quiet night, staring at the Moon shining bright above, and suddenly you wonder—what would it feel like to actually fly around it? Not land on it, just circle around and see the side that we can never see from Earth.
Sounds like something out of a science fiction movie, right?
However, in just a few weeks, four people are going to do exactly that, and the whole world—including us here in India—is buzzing with excitement.
As February approaches, the excitement builds.
The exact launch date might shift because safety comes first—weather conditions, technical checks, and astronaut readiness all matters.
This is NASA's Artemis II mission, and it is a huge deal. The last time humans went near the Moon was back in 1972—more than fifty years ago.
That was during the famous Apollo missions, when astronauts actually walked on the lunar surface and brought back rocks. Our parents and grandparents watched those moments on grainy black-and-white televisions, holding their breath in wonder.
Then, for decades, the missions stopped.
Now, it seems NASA is saying: "We're back, and this time we're going to stay."
The Artemis programme isn't just one quick trip—it's about going back to the Moon, setting up bases there, and eventually using it as a stepping stone to reach Mars. Think of the Moon as a practice ground before tackling something even bigger.
What is Artemis II?
Artemis I took place in 2022, but there were no people on board as it was just a test to check if the spacecraft and rocket could handle the journey.
It flew around the Moon and returned safely, proving the technology worked. Now comes Artemis II, the crucial next step.
This time, four astronauts will be inside the Orion capsule, circling the Moon and coming back home—they won't land on it, but will go closer than anyone has in over half a century.
The whole journey will take about ten days, covering millions of kilometres. It's like taking your brand-new bike for a long test ride before using it for an important journey, before which you want to make sure everything works perfectly.
The machine that makes this possible is different. It's called the Space Launch System (SLS), and it's one of the most powerful rockets ever built by humans.
“Imagine a building taller than thirty floors. That's how huge this rocket is. Its job is to push the Orion spacecraft—which is the capsule where the astronauts will eat, sleep, and work—all the way to the Moon and back,” explained space analyst Girish Linganna.
NASA on Saturday slowly rolled this gigantic rocket from its assembly building to the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The six-kilometre journey took almost twelve hours to cover because the rocket weighs thousands of tonnes.
Up next is something called a "wet dress rehearsal", scheduled for early February.
The rocket will be filled with super-cold fuel, will go through the entire countdown as if it were launch day, and then be drained safely.
If everything checks out perfectly, the actual launch could take place as soon as February 6, though there are backup dates if weather or technical issues pop up.
An inspiring four-member crew
Commander Reid Wiseman, a veteran astronaut who has been to space before, leads the team.
Victor Glover will be the pilot, and here's something special—he'll become the first African-American person ever to embark on a Moon mission.
Christina Koch, a mission specialist, will make history as the first woman to fly around the Moon.
Representing international teamwork is Jeremy Hansen from Canada.
These folks aren't just skilled pilots—they're regular people who dreamed big and trained incredibly hard for years. They've practiced living in cramped spaces, dealing with zero gravity, and managing emergencies that could happen millions of kilometres from home.
Imagine floating inside a small room and looking out the window to see the Earth—that has your family and everything you know—as a distant, tiny blue dot. That takes serious courage.
Why should India care about this?
Well, space exploration affects all of us. Our own ISRO has already achieved amazing things with its Chandrayaan missions, even landing on the Moon's south pole before anyone else.
“These missions bring practical benefits—better weather forecasting, new medicines, and advanced technologies—that eventually reach our phones and homes. They also create thousands of jobs and inspire young minds to pursue science and innovation," observed Linganna.
"Interestingly, over 15 lakh people worldwide—including many from India—sent their names digitally to be carried on a chip inside Orion,” he added.