WATCH: Artemis II is set to orbit the moon. Here's what to know

NASA's Artemis II mission will send four astronauts on a lunar fly-around, marking the first crewed journey to the moon since the Apollo program ended in 1972. The mission represents a key stepping stone in NASA's effort to return humans to lunar orbit and eventually land on the moon's surface as part of the broader Artemis program. Artemis II follows the uncrewed Artemis I test flight and will validate the Space Launch System rocket and Orion capsule with a crew aboard before attempting a lunar landing in subsequent missions. The mission echoes the trajectory of Apollo 8, which orbited the moon with astronauts but did not land. This crewed lunar return signals a major shift in U.S. spaceflight priorities toward sustained moon exploration and positions NASA to compete with other nations advancing their own lunar programs.