Preparing for Artemis II: Training for a Mission Around the Moon

Four astronauts will soon travel beyond low Earth orbit and fly around the Moon aboard Artemis II, a mission that will test NASA’s systems and hardware for human exploration of deep space.

Since June 2023, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen have been preparing for their lunar journey. The mission, lasting approximately 10 days, will test the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, dubbed Integrity by the crew, while requiring the quartet to operate with greater autonomy and make critical decisions far from Earth.

Artemis II Training Director

Jacki Mahaffey

Unlike missions to the International Space Station, Artemis II offers no nearby refuge and no possibility of returning to Earth a few hours after a problem. The training reflects this reality. Crews are prepared not only to follow procedures, but also to understand spacecraft systems well enough to adapt when conditions change.

The training began with mission fundamentals, including how the Orion and SLS systems work individually and together. From there, the crew progressed through training phases that transitioned from routine on-orbit operations to more complex mission segments such as ascent, entry and landing. Each phase builds on the previous one as the crew gets closer to flight.

At the same time, the astronauts trained in medical operations, exercise systems, spacesuits and daily life aboard Orion. Together, these elements form a single, integrated mission schedule.

A key element of Artemis II training includes lunar observation and photography. At NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, astronauts studied the far side of the Moon, learning to identify crater shapes, surface textures, color variations and reflectivity.

Although Artemis II will not land on the Moon, the crew will conduct detailed observations from lunar orbit to prepare for future Artemis missions.

In addition to classroom lessons and simulations, the Artemis II crew trains aboard T-38 jets at Johnson’s Ellington Field. The T-38 exposes astronauts to high workload and dynamic flight conditions that enhance spatial awareness and adaptability, skills that translate directly to decision-making under pressure during spaceflight.

The crew donned their Orion Crew Survival System spacesuits during training to support testing of Orion’s environmental control and survival systems. The suit provides pressure, oxygen and heat protection during launch, entry and emergency scenarios, while Orion’s life support systems manage the crew’s oxygen, water, temperature and overall health throughout the mission.

Inside the Orion mission simulator at Johnson, the crew rehearsed each phase of the mission, from routine operations to emergency response. The simulations are designed to teach astronauts how to diagnose faults, manage competing priorities, and make decisions with delayed communication from Earth.

Through this process, the quartet learned every aspect of the interior of the Orion crew module, including how to navigate the onboard screens and perform the procedures used to pilot and monitor the spacecraft.

Although Artemis II astronauts will not land on the Moon, the geological foundations they develop during field training in remote environments are essential to achieving the mission’s science goals.

During the mission, the crew will examine a targeted set of surface features, including craters and regolith, from orbit. Astronauts will document variations in color, reflectivity and texture to help scientists interpret geologic history.

The mission will end when the Artemis II mission lands.

The crew worked on water landing and recovery operations at the agency’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory. They rehearsed how to safely exit the Orion spacecraft in different scenarios, stabilize the spacecraft and board a raft – skills they will rely on after returning from their mission around the Moon.

The Artemis II crew also conducted integrated ground systems testing at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. These included tailored testing, full mission rehearsals, and launch day dry runs that took the astronauts through every step, from the journey to the launch pad to entry into Orion on Launch Pad 39B.

As Artemis II moves closer to launch, the focus shifts from preparation to readiness as the crew enters the next era of exploration beyond low Earth orbit.