New Delhi, Jan 19 (NationPress) After half a century since the Apollo 17 mission in December 1972, which marked humanity's first lunar landing, NASA is set to launch a crew of four astronauts on an orbital journey around the Moon on February 6.

The Artemis II crew comprises NASA's commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialists Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

In preparation for this monumental mission, NASA has successfully transported the Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket to the launchpad at Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Sunday.

“Artemis II will be a significant advancement for human space exploration. This landmark mission will take humans farther from Earth than ever before and provide essential information for our return to the Moon, all with America leading the charge,” stated NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman.

He further noted, “Artemis II signifies progress toward creating a sustainable presence on the Moon and paving the way for Americans to venture to Mars. We move boldly forward.”

The 10-day mission will lay the groundwork for Artemis III, scheduled for 2027, when astronauts will land at the lunar South Pole for the first time to establish a long-term foothold.

“Through the Artemis program, NASA aims to bring humans back to the Moon for economic advantages, scientific advancements, and to prepare for crewed explorations to Mars,” the agency remarked.

In August 2022, NASA conducted a test of Artemis I — the inaugural integrated flight trial of NASA's Deep Space Exploration Systems, including the Orion spacecraft and SLS rocket.

With Artemis II, NASA will thoroughly evaluate its Orion spacecraft and deep-space exploration systems under real conditions, though the spacecraft will not land on the lunar surface.

The four-member crew will launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and perform an initial orbit around Earth to assess life support and other critical systems.

While still in close proximity to Earth, the crew will evaluate the effectiveness of the life support systems essential for generating breathable air.

Additionally, utilizing the Moon’s gravity, the astronauts will execute a trans-lunar injection burn, where Orion’s service module will give the final thrust needed to set the spacecraft on a four-day outbound trajectory around the far side of the Moon, tracing a figure-eight path.

The mission is anticipated to take the astronauts more than 230,000 miles from Earth at their most distant point, following a free-return trajectory that allows them to coast back to Earth without further engine burns.

The flight will conclude with a high-speed atmospheric reentry and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

“In the upcoming days, engineers and technicians will prepare the Artemis II rocket for the wet dress rehearsal, a critical test of fueling operations and countdown protocols,” NASA announced.

The team will also load the rocket with cryogenic propellants, conduct the countdown, and practice the safe drainage of propellants from the rocket — all vital steps leading up to the first crewed Artemis mission by February 2, according to the space agency.