By Aya Goldwasser, Contributing Writer

In the field of astronomy, the search for more information about the universe continues. One of these research endeavors is NASA’s new Artemis II. According to NASA’s official website, Artemis II will launch in April 2026 at the earliest and send four astronauts around the moon in a newly built spacecraft. The mission marks the first time humans will be on board NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket; this rocket had previously only been tested without a crew inside. 

The Artemis II mission is part of a series of missions leading to Artemis III where  NASA astronauts will attempt to land on the moon for a second time. The crew’s goal is to test whether this new rocket could sustain the process of entering space with humans inside, and if its systems will last during the journey. The astronauts on board the Artemis II mission will be NASA’s Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Reid Wiseman,  along with the  Canadian Space Agency’s Jeremy Hansen. This mission is a new venture to gain more information about life on the moon that can advance our knowledge of outer space. The information the crew plans to collect relates to important characteristics of the moon’s surface, such as the possibility that water could exist on the moon. 

Space Launch System Rocket        Photo from Google Images

When asked about the mission, Mr. Brooks-Hedstrom, astronomy teacher, mentioned his admiration for the mission’s name, Artemis. He explained that in Greek mythology, Artemis was the goddess of the moon. Brooks-Hedstrom finds the name fitting because “one of the stated goals of the Artemis program is to put a woman on the moon.” He also added that he considers the mission important because “putting people back on the Moon will be a signal that the US can still do hard things” and that Winsor students should use it as a source of inspiration to “see big challenges met successfully.” Additionally, Zara Sword ’26, co-head of Winsor’s Astronomy Club, mentioned that she is particularly excited about the mission because “the Artemis missions may lead to the first person of color and the first woman reaching the moon.”

The goals and details of this mission are both interesting and impactful. This important mission serves as a reminder of how complex and unknown the world of space exploration is!☐