Beyond the Blue Marble: Humanity’s 2026 Return to the Deep

MISSION STATUS [ SLS STACK COMPLETE ]

LAUNCH WINDOW FEB 05-06, 2026

OBJECTIVE LUNAR FREE-RETURN

TELEMETRY ACTIVE - DSN LINK 1

Artemis II Profile

// CREWED LUNAR EXPLORATION 2026 //

01 // TRAJECTORY DYNAMICS

Figure-8 Trajectory

The mission utilizes a Trans-Lunar Injection (TLI) to achieve a high-altitude lunar flyby. By passing the lunar far side at approximately 7,400km, Orion utilizes a "free-return" gravity assist, ensuring a ballistic return to Earth without additional propulsion [1].

02 // LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS

ECLSS Deep-Space Trial

Verification of the Orion Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS). This involves monitoring CO2 scrubbing, atmospheric nitrogen regulation, and the first crew-tested radiation shielding efficiency in the Van Allen Belts [1].

03 // PROXIMITY OPS

Manual Piloting Demo

Commander Wiseman and Pilot Glover will execute manual proximity operations. This involves navigating Orion relative to the ICPS (spent upper stage) to validate manual handling for future Artemis III docking [3].

Crew Member	Agency	Mission Intel
Reid WisemanCommander	NASA	Operational lead for the SLS flight phase; former Chief of the Astronaut Office. Primary lead for proximity flight maneuvers.
Victor GloverPilot	NASA	The first Black astronaut assigned to a lunar flight path. Responsible for Orion navigation and power systems.
Christina KochMission Specialist	NASA	Global record holder for the longest single female spaceflight. Designated lead for deep-space science and ECLSS monitoring.
Jeremy HansenMission Specialist	CSA	First Canadian citizen to leave Low Earth Orbit. Acting as the bridge between international partner technologies and NASA core systems [2].

REFERENCES

[1]

NASA Mission Directorate, "Artemis II: Crewed Lunar Flyby Trajectory and Orion Life Support Analysis," NASA Space Science Reviews, Washington, DC, USA, Rep. 2025-104, Nov. 2025.

[2]

Canadian Space Agency (CSA), "Jeremy Hansen: CSA Mission Specialists Integration for Deep Space Travel," CSA Astronautical Journal, Longueuil, QC, Canada, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 45-50, Dec. 2025.

[3]

T. Malik and S. Howell, "Artemis II Launch Readiness: February 2026 Window Confirmation and SLS Stacking Progress," Aeronautics & Space Reports, vol. 88, no. 12, pp. 1102-1108, Dec. 2025.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Sankalpa Lokuliyanage

Masters in Software (KNU) | BSc (Hons) Computer Science
Specializing in Cybersecurity & Software Architecture. Researching the bridge between planetary science and digital generative systems.

From Blogger iPhone client