Artemis II Reference Guide 2026

** Softcover - 132 pages - 8.5 x 11 - Printed in Color **

Artemis II Reference Guide 2026 NASA

We are ready for Artemis II to enable NASA to set course to explore the Moon, marking a new era of human spaceflight and deep space exploration.

By harnessing the capabilities of NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket, Orion spacecraft, and ground systems, the Artemis II mission will send NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen on an approximately 10-day, 685,000-plus-mile journey around the Moon and back.

It has been more than 50 years since humans have traveled beyond low Earth orbit. Over the ensuing decades, our world has changed, our dreams and aspirations have grown, and our technological capabilities have advanced at an astounding pace.

Since the successful test flight of Artemis I, teams of NASA engineers and specialists have painstakingly analyzed every piece of data from that mission. The lessons we have learned and implemented give us confidence that the Artemis II SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft will be the most capable deep space system ever flown.

When launched, Artemis II will be the culmination of years of planning, technology development, hardware testing, crew training, public investment, and seamless coordination among NASA’s commercial and international partners.

But Artemis II is more than a steppingstone to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. It is a critical mission of scientific discovery and technology innovation. During flight, our astronauts in space and support teams around the globe will gather vital data on human health, make firsthand observations of the lunar far side, and practice flight maneuvers necessary for NASA’s return to the lunar surface under Artemis III.

This mission builds upon America’s proud legacy of Apollo, the space shuttle, and the International Space Station. But the time has come for NASA to blaze new trails and extend our reach to exciting and unexplored frontiers. We go to the Moon not as momentary visitors, but rather as bold pioneers committed to the ongoing exploration of the lunar surface and, for the first time ever, the Moon’s South Pole region.

Ultimately, what we build, test, and discover at the Moon will teach us how to live and work on another world as we prepare for human missions to Mars.

Artemis II and future missions at the Moon will also energize innovation across our technology base, enhance our ability to conduct science across all disciplines, and secure American leadership in space for generations to come.

This is a proud and powerful moment for NASA and our nation. We have challenged ourselves to go farther, and we have met that challenge together. As you read through this reference guide, I encourage you to look beyond the facts and figures. Take time to appreciate the many thousands of people who have given their skills, ingenuity, and unwavering commitment to the mission and the goals of NASA.

Artemis succeeds because of humanity’s shared vision of a better tomorrow and a more prosperous future. We are honored to have you join us on this adventure.

Get YOUR copy now and follow along in this historic venture!