# lunar exploration
Latest news and articles about lunar exploration
Total: 4 articles found
SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Delivers Four Astronauts to ISS for Eight-Month Science Push
SpaceX launched a Crew Dragon on 13 February from Florida, ferrying four astronauts to the International Space Station for an eight‑month mission centered on experiments that support lunar and Mars exploration, such as plant–bacteria research to improve food production. The flight highlights the growing role of commercial providers in sustaining human presence in low Earth orbit and testing technologies needed for deep‑space missions.
NASA’s Artemis 2 Rocket Rolls to the Pad as Countdown to First Crewed Orion Flight Begins
NASA has moved its SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft to Pad 39B in Florida, marking a key step ahead of Artemis 2—the first crewed Orion flight. The mission, a roughly ten-day free-return circumlunar test carrying three NASA astronauts and one Canadian, will validate life-support and integrated operations ahead of later, landing-focused missions.
NASA Moves Artemis II Stack to Launch Pad, Signalling Final Preparations for First Crewed Lunar Flyby in Decades
NASA has transferred the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft for Artemis II to the Kennedy Space Center launch pad, entering a critical phase of integrated testing before a crewed lunar flyby not earlier than 6 February. The mission—carrying four astronauts—will be the first crewed flight for both SLS and Orion and is a pivotal step toward future lunar landings and sustained operations.
NASA’s Artemis II Rolls to the Pad, Signalling a New Phase in Crewed Lunar Return
NASA moved the Artemis II rocket and crewed Orion spacecraft to Kennedy Space Center’s launch pad on 17 January, marking a key preparation phase ahead of the first crewed lunar flyby in the Artemis programme. The pad transfer signals hardware readiness but ushers in a period of final integrated testing and schedule risk ahead of launch.