Back to the moon: Artemis II will take humans beyond low Earth orbit after more than 50 years.

Artemis II will be the first mission in over 50 years to carry humans beyond low-Earth orbit, and its crew will include a woman, a person of color, and a Canadian.

Artemis II will carry humans beyond low-Earth orbit for the first time since the Apollo era. The last crewed mission that left low-Earth orbit was Apollo 17 in 1972. The new lunar program reflects changes over the past five decades, and the Artemis II crew will, for the first time on such a mission, include a woman, a person of color, and a Canadian. Artemis II itself will not land on the moon; a lunar landing is planned for Artemis IV, currently scheduled for 2028. Key facts: - Artemis II is described as the first human mission beyond low-Earth orbit in more than 50 years. - The last human mission beyond low-Earth orbit was Apollo 17 in 1972. - The Artemis II crew will include a woman, a person of color, and a Canadian. - Artemis II will not attempt a moon landing; a landing is planned for Artemis IV in 2028. - The article notes that, amid advances in AI and automation, the mission is presented as an affirmation of human creativity and discovery. Summary: The return to deep space marks a renewal of crewed exploration after decades focused on robotic probes and low-Earth activity. The article frames Artemis II as a human-centered achievement in an era of rapid technological change, and it notes that a moon landing is scheduled for Artemis IV in 2028.