NYU SPS Instructor Covers Artemis II Mission

Why It Matters

Artemis II validates the hardware and policy foundations essential for returning humans to the Moon, shaping the next decade of commercial and geopolitical space activity.

Key Takeaways

• Artemis II marks NASA’s first crewed lunar flyby since Apollo.
• Mission will test SLS rocket and Orion capsule systems.
• First woman, person of color, and Canadian will orbit Moon.
• Artemis Accords establish multilateral policy framework for space activities.
• Data will inform planned crewed lunar landing within next decade.

Summary

NYU’s Center for Global Affairs adjunct Delane Mayer explains that NASA’s Artemis II mission, the first crewed lunar flyby since the Apollo era, is slated for launch this year, positioning the United States at the forefront of renewed lunar exploration.

The ten‑day flight will carry the first woman, the first person of color, and the first Canadian to travel around the Moon, while serving as a critical test of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion crew capsule before any surface landing.

Mayer highlights the mission’s dual purpose: gathering engineering data and operational experience, and advancing the Artemis Accords—a set of non‑binding, multilateral agreements that aim to codify norms for resource use, safety, and cooperation in cislunar space.

Successful completion will de‑risk subsequent Artemis missions, accelerate commercial lunar‑landing contracts, and signal to rival space powers that the U.S. is committed to establishing a sustainable presence beyond low‑Earth orbit.

Original Description

Today's scheduled Artemis II launch marks a major milestone in the future of space exploration. NYU SPS Center for Global Affairs adjunct instructor DeLaine Mayer, who is teaching "Astropolitik: the Politics, Policies, and Technologies of Outer Space" this semester, shares what this mission means and what it will accomplish for future space travel. Artemis II is NASA's first crewed lunar flyby mission in more than 50 years.