Artemis II: Historic mission to explore the far side of the Moon launches today

We're just hours away from a moment many of us have been waiting years for. If everything sticks to the schedule, the Space Launch System (SLS) will roar to life with a power not seen since the Apollo era. I'm talking, of course, about the liftoff of Artemis II, a mission that will not only send four astronauts into lunar orbit but will dare to explore what no human has ever seen with their own eyes: the far side of the Moon. Following the resounding success of the uncrewed Artemis 1 mission, which validated every critical system a few months back, the bar has been set incredibly high. But if there's one thing the space agency has proven 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 path for this Artemis 2 mission is no simple cruise around our satellite. It's a free-return trajectory that will take the crew beyond the point of no return, venturing 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 that will last over 30 minutes. For many, that's the most critical moment, but for those of us familiar with spaceflight, it's the true trial by fire for the new generation.

The heart of this adventure beats within the Orion Service Module. This is no simple container; it's the brains and the driving force behind the mission, built through a European collaboration that shows 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 night and day: now there are human lives on board, and every system has been tested to ensure that if something goes wrong, rescue is possible, even if the distances involved are colossal.

• 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 see the culmination of decades of engineering.
• Trans-Lunar Injection: After reaching Earth orbit, the SLS's upper stage will give the final push to send Orion towards the Moon. It's the moment the crew will know there's no turning back.
• The THEMIS Encounter: During the flight, the THEMIS science programme will be activated to study the interaction of the solar wind with the lunar surface. It's a last-minute addition, but one astrophysicists have been requesting for years. They'll use the human presence to calibrate instruments with a precision that satellites just 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 those chosen

The countdown is relentless. At this point, technicians have already finished loading the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen tanks. The launch window is tight, but anyone who has followed the development of the Space Launch System knows that reliability is at an all-time high now. The previous mission provided valuable lessons: the hydrogen purging issues that caused so much trouble during the Artemis 1 tests have been resolved. There's no room for rookie nerves here.

For those of us in Europe, following this mission will feel special. The Orion Service Module bears the mark of the European Space Agency (ESA), and technology developed in European facilities is on board. This isn't just a US mission; it's a human journey with a distinct European touch. When the astronauts look back and see Earth as a small blue dot, part of that home will be our contributions. And that, folks, isn't just cheap patriotism; it's a scientific fact.

You couldn't ask for more anticipation. The images we'll get from Artemis II are destined to become iconic. We'll see the Moon like never before, with a resolution and quality that far surpass anything seen in previous missions. And the best part? This is just the appetiser. What really keeps us up at night is knowing that if Artemis II achieves its goals, Artemis III already has its sights set on the lunar south pole, where a sustained human presence will be established. But that's another story. For today, it's all about looking to the sky and hoping the SLS gives us the spectacle we've all been waiting for. The countdown has begun.