NASA has officially confirmed that the first crewed flight to the Moon in over 50 years is scheduled for March 6. The crew has already entered mandatory quarantine as they prepare for a ten-day journey aboard the Orion spacecraft.

The historic mission includes four experienced astronauts: Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen (representing Canada). Since February 20, the crew has been in strict isolation in Houston. The two-week quarantine is a standard safety protocol designed to protect the astronauts from any infections before launch.

The Artemis II mission will be a major test for the super-heavy SLS rocket and the Orion spacecraft. The astronauts will fly around the Moon along a figure-eight trajectory before returning to Earth. The primary objective of the mission is to evaluate how life-support systems perform in deep space conditions. A successful mission will pave the way for the next step — landing humans on the lunar surface.

Ground teams have already completed key checks. Recently, a “wet dress rehearsal” was conducted at the launch site: the rocket was fully fueled and a countdown simulation was performed. Engineers successfully resolved technical issues, including a minor hydrogen leak, and now confirm that all systems are fully ready for launch from Launch Complex 39B in Florida.

This flight will mark a historic milestone. Since the legendary Apollo 17 in 1972, humans have not traveled beyond low Earth orbit. On March 6, humanity will take its first real step toward establishing a permanent base on the Moon.

ORIENT