Artemis II: The historic mission to explore the far side of the Moon lifts off today

We're just hours away from a moment many of us have been waiting years for. If all goes to plan, the Space Launch System (SLS) will roar with a power not seen since the Apollo era. I'm talking, of course, about the launch of Artemis II – the mission that will not only send four astronauts into lunar orbit, but dare to explore what no human has ever laid eyes on: the far side of the Moon. Following the resounding success of the uncrewed Artemis 1 mission, which validated every critical system a few months ago, the bar is set incredibly high. But if there's one thing the space agency has shown in recent years, it's that they know how to write these chapters of history.

A journey like no other: from launch to the lunar shadow

The flight path for Artemis 2 is no simple cruise around our satellite. It's a free-return trajectory that will carry the crew beyond the point of no return, into territory where direct communication with Earth is a major technical challenge. The trajectory is calculated to the millimetre so that at its peak, the spacecraft will slip behind the Moon, plunging the astronauts into a radio silence lasting over 30 minutes. For many, that's the most critical moment, but for those of us in the know about spaceflight, it's the real baptism of fire for the new generation.

The heart of this adventure beats within the Orion Service Module. This is no simple container; it's the brain and driving force of the mission, built through a European collaboration that proves space exploration is no longer the domain of a single nation. It provides power, propulsion, thermal control and, most importantly, the water and air that will keep the crew alive during the ten-day odyssey. The difference from Artemis 1 is immense: now there are human lives on board, and every system has been tested to ensure that if something does go wrong, rescue is possible, even across colossal distances.

• Liftoff: From the Kennedy Space Center, the SLS will generate 8.8 million pounds of thrust. It's the most powerful rocket ever built. When it lifts off, we won't just see fire; we'll witness the culmination of decades of engineering.
• Trans-Lunar Injection: After reaching Earth orbit, the SLS's upper stage will give Orion the final push toward the Moon. That's the moment the crew will know there's no turning back.
• The THEMIS Encounter: During the flight, the THEMIS science program will be activated to study how the solar wind interacts with the lunar surface. It's a last-minute addition, but one astrophysicists have been requesting for years. They'll take advantage of the human presence to calibrate instruments with a precision satellites can't match.
• The Far Side: They'll pass just 100 kilometres above the surface of the far side. The images we'll see from Orion's cameras will be of territory completely untouched by the human eye.

A technical and human challenge worthy of the chosen few

The countdown is relentless. By now, technicians have finished loading the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen tanks. The launch window is tight, but anyone who's followed the development of the Space Launch System knows that reliability is at an all-time high this time around. The previous mission taught us valuable lessons: the hydrogen purge issues that plagued the Artemis 1 tests are now sorted. There's no room for rookie nerves here.

For those of us in Australia, there's a special connection to follow. The Orion Service Module bears the mark of the European Space Agency (ESA), and onboard is technology developed in European facilities. This isn't just an American journey; it's a human journey with a strong European accent. When the astronauts look back and see Earth as a tiny blue dot, part of that home will be our contributions. And that, mates, isn't cheap patriotism – it's scientific fact.

The excitement couldn't be higher. The images we'll get from Artemis II are destined to become icons. We'll see the Moon like never before, with resolution and quality that far surpass anything from previous missions. And the best part? This is just the appetiser. What really keeps us up at night is knowing that if Artemis II hits its marks, Artemis III already has its sights set on the lunar south pole, where a sustained presence will be established. But that's another story. For now, it's time to look to the sky and hope the SLS gives us the spectacle we so badly need. The countdown has begun.