Artemis II, Apollo 8, and Apollo 13
The Artemis II mission launched to orbit the moon, similar to Apollo 8's preparatory mission in 1968. Like Apollo 13, it will swing around the moon rather than entering lunar orbit.
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Artemis II is NASA's first crewed mission to orbit the Moon since Apollo, marking a significant step in returning humans to lunar exploration. The mission will test systems for future lunar landings and establish a sustainable presence on the Moon.
The Artemis II mission, which will carry astronauts around the Moon without landing, is not designed for significant lunar science. Its primary purpose is to demonstrate human spaceflight capabilities and test systems for future Artemis missions.