Recently was the pilot of the SpaceX Crew-1, the first commercial operational mission to the ISS. Victor Glover will take manual control to approach it, simulating the maneuvers that will be made in the future to dock with lunar stations. Goodbye to GPS: As Orion moves away, the astronauts will lose the signal from Earth's positioning satellites. At that moment, the astronauts will be the most isolated humans in the known universe. The Return Challenge: From 3,000 Degrees to the Ocean. The most dangerous phase occurs in the last minutes. Glover was selected as an astronaut in 2013 while working in the U.S. Senate. Before being selected by NASA in 2009, he was a naval aviator. The U.S. Navy will recover the heroes and the capsule, loaded with terabytes of data that will dictate the future of our species. Launch Date and Time. Date: Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Launch Window: 4:24 PM Central Mexico Time. Where to watch it? The official coverage will begin much before liftoff: NASA+ and YouTube: The broadcast with analysis and initial preparations starts from 12:50 PM (Florida time). In Spanish: There will be a special broadcast with commentary in our language starting at 14:45 hours (Mexico). They will test the Deep Space Network, a system of giant antennas on Earth that will be their only umbilical cord with us from more than 370,000 kilometers away. The Far Side of the Moon: Orion will pass about 7,400 kilometers beyond the far side of the Moon. Their focus on human physiology and space medicine will be vital to monitor how the body reacts to radiation outside of Earth's magnetic field. Victor Glover (Pilot): This California engineer has the critical responsibility of piloting the Orion spacecraft. Following the resounding success of the unmanned Artemis I mission in 2022, NASA has upped the ante. A former combat pilot and field geology expert, Hansen has directed training classes for NASA astronauts, earning the respect of the entire international community. His presence symbolizes that the return to the Moon is a global effort, not just of one nation. The “Monster” of Metal: The SLS and the Orion Capsule. To leave Earth, brute controlled force is needed. The SLS (Space Launch System) rocket generates 4 million kilograms of thrust, equivalent to the power of dozens of commercial aircraft engines at the same time. However, the true jewel is the Orion spacecraft. During Artemis II, Orion must demonstrate that its ECLSS (Environmental Control and Life Support System) can generate breathable air and maintain a stable temperature for four adults in an absolute vacuum and extreme temperatures. The Itinerary: A “Figure Eight” in the Cosmos. The approximately 10-day journey is a perfect choreography of orbital physics: The Pilot Test: After two initial orbits of Earth, the crew will use the rocket's upper stage (called ICPS) as a “target.” For 30 to 50 minutes, there will be total silence: the Moon will block all communication with Earth. Upon entering the atmosphere, friction will turn the air around Orion into superheated plasma at 1,650°C. Before becoming an astronaut, he worked at remote scientific stations in Antarctica and the Arctic, an extreme isolation experience that makes him the ideal candidate for the moments of absolute solitude behind the Moon. Jeremy Hansen (Mission Specialist): Representing the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), Colonel Hansen will be the first non-American to travel to the Moon's vicinity. This is not a routine mission. It is the final exam of a multi-billion dollar technological infrastructure and the necessary bridge for humanity to establish a permanent base on the Moon and, eventually, set foot on Mars in the near future. Deep space is no longer just a zone of telescopic observation; it is about to become, once again, the stage of human audacity. The splashdown in the Pacific will be coordinated by the U.S. Navy. Artemis II is preparing to be the first crewed flight to take four humans beyond low Earth orbit since the end of the Apollo era in 1972. The Chosen: Who are the faces of Artemis II. The Artemis II crew stands out not only for its elite training but also for the diversity of its backgrounds, marking a new era in space exploration. Reid Wiseman (Commander): A native of Baltimore, Wiseman is the leader of this expedition.
