Later today, NASA is set to launch Artemis II, marking the first manned mission in the Artemis program and the first manned moon mission in over 50 years – a major step toward returning humans to the Moon. The mission will send four astronauts, Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, aboard the Orion spacecraft for a 10-day mission around the Moon, intending to test systems that could eventually support future lunar landings.

The launch is scheduled to take place from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with coverage expected to be streamed live throughout the day.

When asked if they’d be watching the launch, junior Juniper Riley said “Yes, I WILL be watching it.”

For several students and staff at New Albany, the event represents a moment tied to the future of exploration. As one of the first missions to carry astronauts beyond low Earth orbit since the Apollo Program, Artemis II signals a new era in space travel.

“I am so (explitive)ing happy we’re [returning to the Moon],” Riley said. They said they were “really excited”, they also want to major in astronomy and someday “would love to become an astronaut.”

According to NASA, the crew will not land on the Moon during this mission, but will instead orbit it and return safely to Earth. The goal is to test the spacecraft’s life support systems, navigation, and overall performance with humans on board before attempting a landing in later missions.

The Artemis program aims to establish a long-term human presence on the Moon and eventually prepare for missions to Mars. If successful, Artemis II will be a critical step toward these goals – which has been in the works since the George H. W. Bush administration. 

When asked if they thought they’d live to see the first manned mission to Mars, Riley said “I sure hope so. I think I’d be pretty old, at the least, but it’d be awesome to see someday.”