Powered by the Airbus-built Orion ESM

We invite you to join us on a historic journey to the Moon. The Artemis II mission - scheduled for launch in early February - will send NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, on a 10-day journey around the Moon. 

As a key contributor in NASA's Artemis programme, Airbus is proud to contribute by having developed and manufactured the European Service Module (ESM) on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA).  As the ‘powerhouse’ of the Orion spacecraft, the ESM provides the four astronauts with propulsion, power, air and water needed for survival in deep space.

Artemis II marks a significant milestone in human space exploration, paving the way for future lunar exploration missions. 

Stay tuned for the latest updates, behind-the-scenes insights, and in-depth information about this groundbreaking mission. 

The crew, the mission, the trip

4 astronauts

Artemis II carries a crew of four on a lunar fly-by

10 days

Duration of the historic Artemis II mission

7,500 km

Orion’s altitude above the Moon during its fly-by

1.1 M km

Distance the Artemis II mission will cover

Artemis I to II: experience and collaboration

Artemis II builds upon the success of the uncrewed Artemis I mission in 2022, and will demonstrate a broad range of capabilities needed on deep space missions.

While Artemis I provided invaluable data and insights, demonstrating the capabilities of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion spacecraft, it also confirmed  the exceptional performance of the ESM in the harsh environment of deep space.

With Artemis II, these learnings are being put into practice.  This mission will test the critical systems and procedures necessary to ensure the safety and health of the crew.

As the first crewed mission to the Moon in over 50 years, Artemis II is the crucial precursor to Artemis III, which aims to land the first woman and next man on the lunar surface.

Artemis also demonstrates how collaboration and partnership among European players and the USA can advance technology for both space and Earth, benefiting humanity.

Orion infographic
Orion infographic

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Orion infographic 16x9

Artemis II crew visits Orion ESM at Airbus Bremen

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Artemis II crew visits Orion ESM at Airbus Bremen

Artemis II carries four NASA astronauts on a journey around the Moon

NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Hammock Koch and the Canadian Space Agency’s (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen spent two days at the Airbus Bremen site in September 2023. They visited the cleanrooms, where the different modules are integrated, and also met the engineers who designed the spacecraft.

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Artemis II journey explained

Artemis II is the first crewed mission of the NASA Artemis programme, carrying four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back to Earth for the first time in over fifty years. The Orion spacecraft will orbit Earth several times, then embark on a four-day journey to the Moon, fly around our natural satellite, and return to Earth. During this flight, the crew will test the Airbus-built European Service Module (ESM) in real conditions, validating its performance as the spacecraft's vital engine room and life-support system.

Infographic Artemis II journey
Infographic Artemis II journey

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Infographic Artemis II journey

 

 

 

Artemis II mission - SLS rocket at launch pad, taken by Pleiades Neo

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Artemis II mission - SLS rocket at launch pad, taken by Pleiades Neo

Artemis II rocket spotted at the launch pad

17/01/2026 - MILESTONES

The Artemis II launch is getting closer:  Captured from orbit by our Pléiades Neo satellite, this high-resolution image shows the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, carrying Orion and the Airbus-built European Service Module (ESM), at the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center. This view marks a significant step in the preparations for the Artemis II mission.

Artemis II mission - SLS rocket roll out, taken by Pleiades Neo

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Artemis II mission - SLS rocket roll out, taken by Pleiades Neo

Roll-out of the Space Launch System

17/01/2026 - MILESTONES

Multi-hour roll-out of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft  from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center

  • Artemis II mission - SLS rocket roll out, taken by Pleiades Neo

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    Artemis II mission - SLS rocket roll out, taken by Pleiades Neo

  • Artemis II mission - SLS rocket at launch pad, taken by Pleiades Neo

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    Artemis II mission - SLS rocket at launch pad, taken by Pleiades Neo

  • Gateway Artemis

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    Gateway Artemis

  • NASA astronauts - Artemis II Mission

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    NASA astronauts

  • Orion-ESM-2

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    Orion-ESM-2

  • Orion ESM-2

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    Orion ESM-2

  • Orion ESM-2

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    Orion ESM-2

  • Orion ESM-2

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    Orion ESM-2

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