ASA is preparing to introduce its newest class of astronaut candidates next month, a symbolic step as the agency edges closer to its first crewed lunar mission in more than half a century. The reveal comes just weeks before a series of briefings designed to build momentum for Artemis II, the mission slated to send astronauts around the Moon no later than April 2026.
Crew of Artemis II, L-R: Victor Glover (NASA), Reid Wiseman (NASA), Jeremy Hansen (Canadian Space Agency), Christina Koch (NASA). Credit: NASA
On September 22, NASA will present the astronaut candidates, who will undergo two years of rigorous training before becoming flight-eligible. The following day, agency leaders will outline the Artemis II mission plan and associated science payloads. The crew itself — a team of three Americans and one Canadian — will take the stage on September 24 to discuss their journey.
Unlike its successors, Artemis II will not orbit or land on the Moon. Instead, it will follow a free-return trajectory — a path designed to slingshot the Orion spacecraft around the Moon and back to Earth, even in the event of propulsion system failure. The mission is widely viewed as a critical dress rehearsal for Artemis III, currently targeted for mid-2027, which aims to land astronauts on the lunar surface.
The preparations come at a turbulent time for NASA. Facing sweeping workforce reductions ordered by the Trump administration, the agency is expected to shrink from nearly 17,400 employees to fewer than 12,000 by the start of fiscal year 2026. The administration has also called for deep cuts to NASA’s science and aeronautics programs, though bipartisan support remains strong for human spaceflight.
Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy, only weeks into his interim leadership, has made clear that crewed exploration is his top priority. “All of the science that we do is going to be directed towards exploration,” Duffy said in a recent interview. He has signaled strong commitment to both Artemis and future human missions to Mars.
Politics and Partnerships
Congress has shown rare unity in backing Artemis, largely driven by geopolitical competition. With China aiming to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030, U.S. lawmakers see Artemis as critical to maintaining American leadership in space. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX), key committee chairs overseeing NASA, have pressed the agency for details on how billions in new funding will be spent.
Still, technical hurdles loom. Artemis III requires a lunar lander, and NASA is banking on SpaceX’s Starship Human Landing System. Development delays have pushed timelines, and while SpaceX plans its 10th Starship test flight this Sunday, the vehicle has yet to reach orbit.
Despite skepticism, Duffy insists Artemis III remains on track for 2027. “I think we’re on track, where we sit today, to keep the 2027 mission in play,” he told CBS News earlier this month.
Looking Beyond Artemis III
NASA’s long-term lunar plans remain unsettled. While the agency envisions building a lunar Gateway station and continuing to use the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft, the Trump administration has proposed shifting toward commercial systems instead. Congress, however, has already allocated billions to keep SLS, Orion, and Gateway alive for at least Artemis IV and V.
For now, the spotlight is on Artemis II — and the new astronaut class that may one day walk on the Moon. The mission’s success will determine whether NASA can finally turn decades of false starts into a sustained return to human exploration beyond Earth orbit.
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