NASA may send astronauts around the moon months earlier than planned, with the Artemis II mission potentially launching as soon as February.

Artemis II, a 10-day crewed flight, will orbit the moon and return to Earth, marking the first humans beyond low Earth orbit since 1972, though it will not involve a lunar landing.

The mission tests systems for Artemis III, scheduled for 2027, which aims to land astronauts on the moon using a Starship-based lander.

Artemis II will use NASA’s Space Launch System rocket and Orion capsule, lifting off from Kennedy Space Center, Al-Jazeera has reported.

The Artemis program seeks scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to lay groundwork for future crewed missions to Mars.