The Preliminary Lunar Science Report for Artemis II is Out! - Universe Today
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On April 1st, 2026, the crew of the Artemis II mission launched to space atop NASA's Space Launch System (SLS). Roughly three and a half hours after launch, the rocket's first stage separated from the Orion spacecraft (Integrity), and astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen began their nearly ten-day journey around the Moon. As the second mission in the Artemis Program, the astronauts' flight was another crucial step toward returning astronauts to the Moon for the first time since the Apollo Era.
In addition, the Artemis II flight provided an opportunity for observation, science, and data gathering that has not existed since the Apollo Era. During the flight, the astronauts studied the "dark side's" geology, witnessed nighttime impacts on the surface, and watched the Earth and Sun rise from the far side of the Moon. And now, with the mission data processed, NASA has released "Artemis II: Sights & Sounds of Science, a field guide to the Artemis II Preliminary Lunar Science Report.
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