NASA sends first Black and first female astronauts on moon flyby mission

Artemis II will be the U.S.'s first crewed trip around the moon in more than 50 years and will carry Victor Glover and Christina Koch as the first Black and first female astronauts to make the lunar flyby.

NASA is preparing to launch Artemis II, a crewed lunar flyby that will carry four astronauts around the moon and back. The mission marks the United States' first journey back to the moon in more than 50 years. It will include Victor Glover and Christina Koch, reported as the first Black and the first female astronauts to travel around the moon. The flight is planned as a loop around the moon and will not include a surface landing. The launch, originally scheduled for early February, has been delayed. Known details: - Artemis II will be a crewed lunar flyby carrying four astronauts, without a surface touchdown. - Victor Glover and Christina Koch are reported as the first Black and first female astronauts to travel around the moon on this mission. - The mission follows Artemis I, an uncrewed launch in 2022, and is presented as a step toward future missions to Mars. - NASA plans scientific research during the flight on astronaut health, the rocket, and lunar science, and the program is reported to involve international partners including Saudi Arabia and Germany. - Commentary in reporting notes budget, schedule and political challenges that leave longer-term plans for a sustained lunar presence uncertain. Summary: Artemis II is described as both a technical step and a cultural milestone for NASA, carrying astronauts identified as firsts for representation on a lunar flyby. The mission will gather research data and involve international cooperation, while delays and broader funding and policy questions mean the program's longer-term trajectory is undetermined at this time.