NASA Spins Four Astronauts Around Moon Just To Avoid New Space Traffic Jam
KEY POINTS
- •NASA launched Artemis II from Florida's Kennedy Space Center on April 3, 2024, with four astronauts aboard Orion spacecraft.
- •The 10-day mission includes multiple Earth orbits and close lunar flybys but does not include landing on the moon's surface.
- •Administrator Jared Isaacman described Artemis II as a vital test for future manned missions to the moon and Mars.
On April 3, 2024, NASA decided that blasting four astronauts—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and first Canadian Jeremy Hansen—into lunar orbit aboard the aptly nicknamed "Integrity" was the perfect way to remind everyone humans haven't visited the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972. Launching from Kennedy Space Center at 6:35 p.m., this 10-day trip promises multiple orbits around Earth, flirting with the moon’s far side by day six, before splashing into the Pacific Ocean circa April 10-11. Built by Lockheed Martin and tested rigorously since its uncrewed Artemis I debut in 2022, Orion’s re-entry speed clocks a mind-blowing 24,581 mph. NASA admin Jared Isaacman called this a 'stepping stone' for eventually tossing the American flag on Mars, after docking with commercial landers by 2027. The only delays were two technical hiccups with Orion, affirming NASA's unofficial motto: "Why land when you can orbit and wait?"
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(1 of 3)Four astronauts cruise around the moon in a spacecraft named ‘Integrity’ so we can pretend orbiting counts as progress. Mars visit coming eventually… maybe, if coffee holds up.
NASA’s Artemis II mission is like the ultimate space road trip—no stops, just endless circling while Earth waits for a sign of progress.
Sending humans to orbit the moon because actual landing would spoil all the technical delays and rightful NASA suspense.
Source: Businessinsider | Published: 4/2/2026 | Author: Lloyd Lee
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