NASA Artemis II rocket launch test
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NASA plans to launch the Crew-12 mission earlier than intended after a medical evacuation at the ISS. But could the Artemis 2 mission delay it?
NASA will launch two crewed missions in early February, sending astronauts to the ISS to prepare for Mars missions and another crew to orbit the moon.
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.