The Artemis II test flight will be NASA’s first mission with crew aboard the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft. Four astronauts will venture around the Moon and return to Earth over the course of 10 days. The launch is currently scheduled for early 2026. In this audio clip, Artemis II pilot and NASA astronaut Victor Glover reflects on the spirit of human exploration.

The Artemis II test flight will be NASA’s first mission with crew aboard the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft. Four astronauts will venture around the Moon and return to Earth over the course of 10 days. The launch is currently scheduled for early 2026. In this audio clip, Artemis II commander and NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman reflects on the legacy of the Apollo missions.

This clip is from an episode of Houston We Have a Podcast that was released on Sept. 12, 2025. In this episode, NASA Artemis II launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson shares her path to the console and what it takes to launch the first crewed Artemis mission to the Moon. In this clip, Blackwell-Thompson describes what it was like to roll the Artemis I rocket to the launchpad in 2022, and reflects on what the experience will be like for Artemis II.

At 12:40 p.m. EST, Dec. 11, 2022, NASA’s Orion spacecraft for the Artemis I mission splashed down in the Pacific Ocean after a 25.5 day mission to the Moon. In this audio clip, commentator Rob Navias observes the splashdown.

At 12:40 p.m. EST, Dec. 11, 2022, NASA’s Orion spacecraft for the Artemis I mission splashed down in the Pacific Ocean after a 25.5 day mission to the Moon. In this audio clip, commentator Rob Navias observes the splashdown.

Artemis I was the first integrated flight test of NASA’s Deep Space Exploration Systems: the Orion spacecraft, the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, and the Exploration Ground Systems at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Artemis I mission flew the uncrewed Orion spacecraft around the Moon and safely back to Earth over the course of 25 days. In this audio clip from Nov. 16, 2022, commentator Derrol Nail observes liftoff of the Artemis I mission.

Artemis I was the first integrated flight test of NASA’s Deep Space Exploration Systems: the Orion spacecraft, the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, and the Exploration Ground Systems at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Artemis I mission flew the uncrewed Orion spacecraft around the Moon and safely back to Earth over the course of 25 days. In this audio clip from Nov. 16, 2022, Artemis I launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson polls her team to resume the countdown to launch. Artemis I launched roughly ten minutes later.

Artemis I was the first integrated flight test of NASA’s Deep Space Exploration Systems: the Orion spacecraft, the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, and the Exploration Ground Systems at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Artemis I mission flew the uncrewed Orion spacecraft around the Moon and safely back to Earth over the course of 25 days. In this audio clip from Nov. 16, 2022, Artemis I launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson resumes the launch countdown and addresses the "Artemis generation" directly. Artemis I launched roughly ten minutes later.

On episode 408, Artemis II landing and recovery director Lili Villareal discusses how NASA and its partners recover the Orion spacecraft and its four astronauts following splashdown at the end of the mission.

On episode 408, Artemis II landing and recovery director Lili Villareal discusses how NASA and its partners recover the Orion spacecraft and its four astronauts following splashdown at the end of the mission.