According to reports on October 26th， NASA’s Acting Administrator， Sean Duffy， announced on the 24th that the Orion spacecraft， designated for the “Artemis II” crewed lunar flyby mission， has successfully docked with the United States’ next-generation lunar rocket， the Space Launch System (SLS)， bringing it closer to readiness for its human spaceflight endeavor.
Duffy stated on the social media platform X that the docking of the Orion spacecraft， codenamed “Integrity，” with the SLS represents a significant milestone for the “Artemis II” mission. This achievement signifies tangible progress in the long-awaited crewed return to lunar exploration.
The mission is slated to send four astronauts into lunar orbit for a crewed flyby， marking the United States’ first deep space human mission in over half a century. This undertaking is not merely symbolic; it is a critical step in re-establishing U.S. capabilities in sustained lunar presence and operations.
Reports indicate that the United States aims to launch the Artemis II lunar exploration mission as early as February of next year. The four astronauts will embark on a lunar flyby， during which they will rigorously test both the Space Launch System rocket and the Orion spacecraft. This validation phase is crucial for ensuring the safety and reliability of the systems for future， more ambitious missions.
Looking ahead， the Artemis III mission， planned for 2027， aims to land two astronauts near the lunar south pole. These astronauts are scheduled to spend seven days on the lunar surface， collecting valuable data on the geological conditions and environmental factors of the region. The insights gained from this extended stay will be instrumental in preparing for the establishment of a permanent human base on the Moon， a long-term goal of the Artemis program.
It is worth noting that the United States’ previous lunar exploration initiative was named “Apollo，” which commenced in 1961. The Apollo 11 mission， the first to achieve a crewed lunar landing， successfully touched down on the Moon on July 20， 1969， with Commander Armstrong and pilot Aldrin aboard the lunar module.
The final Apollo mission to land on the Moon took place in 1972. In total， twelve astronauts have walked on the lunar surface throughout the Apollo program. For over five decades since the conclusion of Apollo， the United States has not undertaken another crewed mission to the Moon， highlighting the immense significance and renewed ambition of the Artemis program.
