NASA released a selfie taken by the Orion capsule and close-up photos of the moon's crater-marked landscape as the spacecraft continues on the Artemis 1 mission, a 25-and-a-half day journey that will take it more than 40,000 miles beyond the far side of ...

NASA astronauts train on Orion spacecraft systems, flight operations, and lunar observations in preparation for the 10-day Artemis II mission around the Moon.

NASA's Artemis 2, the 1st crewed flight to the moon in 5 decades, could launch as early as Feb. 6. First, the rocket will need to ace a fueling test.

“The Orion Waste Management System (WMS) features a full commode suitable for short to mid-length duration missions, offering both privacy and comfortable means for the astronauts to use the bathroom. It employs a small urine tank that is vented to space and replaceable canisters for solid waste storage,” a technical paper on Orion states.

How well Artemis II manages its risks — untested hardware, deep-space distance, and limited escape options — will shape NASA's plans for future lunar landings and, potentially, human missions to Mars. A serious failure could revive long-standing questions about whether the dangers of deep space still justify sending people there.

NASA’s return to crewed lunar flight is now hinging on a slab of material at the bottom of Orion that did not behave the way engineers expected. Instead of a straightforward fix, the agency is reworking how the capsule will slice back through Earth’s atmosphere,

Artemis II will flight-test Orion and the Space Launch System, introducing integrated spacecraft, rocket, and life-support systems designed for sustained human travel beyond low Earth orbit.

After more than 50 years, NASA is preparing to return humans to the Moon—but not just for a quick visit. The Artemis program aims to build a sustained human presence, using new rockets, spacecraft, and partnerships with private companies.