American space agency NASA has launched its moon mission Artemis II. 4 astronauts took off from Florida, America. Astronauts have been sent on this mission after 3 years of training. This 10 day mission is very special in many ways. The interesting thing is that even after circling the moon, these astronauts will not land on its surface.
The goal of this NASA mission is not to land on the moon. Through this mission, the American Space Agency wants to build a base here. The goal is not just this.
When there is no moon landing, why spend millions of dollars?
NASA wants to build its base on the moon. Artemis II mission is part of this goal. The Artemis I mission, launching in November 2022 and orbiting the Moon, was intended to test the rocket and unmanned capsule. The Artemis II mission now sent also aims to test the capability of the SLS rocket and the Orion life support system.
Describing its mission, NASA has written that “The Artemis II mission will confirm whether all systems of the spacecraft are working properly in the depth of space with the crew. The experiences of this mission will pave the way for the next phase of the Moon mission.
NASA’s Artemis III mission will test docking in Earth’s orbit. At the same time, astronauts will land on the Moon in the Artemis IV mission to be launched in 2028.
Liftoff.
The Artemis II mission launched from @NASAKennedy at 6:35pm ET (2235 UTC), propelling four astronauts on a journey around the Moon.
Artemis II will pave the way for future Moon landings, as well as the next giant leap — astronauts on Mars. pic.twitter.com/ENQA4RTqAc
— NASA (@NASA) April 1, 2026
Patty Casas Horn, deputy lead for NASA’s Mission Analysis and Integrated Assessment, told CNN that the main objective of the mission is to return the crew safe and healthy. Safety of the space vehicle will be given priority, and then navigation and onboard systems will be tested.
Artemis II is not just a mission but part of a long planning. It has been designed to test the systems required for future moon landing and deep space exploration.
ARTEMIS II
: In the mission, the 4 astronauts will travel 400,000 km from Earth, which would be the farthest any human has ever gone in all of humanity. pic.twitter.com/emEczRx0j5
— All day Astronomy (@forallcurious) April 1, 2026
How much did it cost?
According to the estimates of NASA’s Inspector General in Bloomberg report, the total cost of this program by 2025 was said to be around $93 billion. Its value in Indian currency is Rs 7,719,000,000,000. Artemis mission receives funding from the US government. That means American taxpayers are the source of funding. Private aerospace companies also play an important role in this.
According to Reuters, companies such as Boeing, Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin play a key role in manufacturing key parts of the mission, including the rocket and spacecraft. These companies are paid through government contracts.
Also read: How many secrets of the moon did NASA’s first moon mission reveal? Preparation to create history with Artemis-II today