Artemis-II: Why the Cosmic Figure-8 Path for Moon Mission?

• Four astronauts will embark on the Artemis-II mission, flying around the Moon in a unique figure-8 orbital path, marking the first human deep-space venture in over 50 years.
• The crew includes Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen.
• The figure-8 trajectory, known as a free-return trajectory, uses the Moon's gravity as a 'cosmic safety net,' allowing Orion to return to Earth even if propulsion systems fail.
• Before trans-lunar injection, the crew will spend 24 hours in Earth orbit to test Orion's life-support systems and allow for emergency return.
• Artemis-II is a critical test for deep-space human travel, paving the way for a permanent lunar base and future missions like Artemis-III, which aims to land the first woman and person of color on the Moon.

Why It Matters: Artemis-II uses a figure-8 path for safety and to test deep-space travel, paving the way for future lunar missions.