Artemis II Is NASA’s Last Moon Mission Without Silicon Valley

Artemis II Is NASA’s Last Moon Mission Without Silicon Valley

Artemis II: Why This Moon Mission Changes Everything for Space Exploration NASA just made history. For the first time in 54 years, American astronauts are traveling around the moon — and one Canadian is along for the ride. The Artemis II mission launched four crew members aboard the Orion spacecraft, setting a record for the farthest humans have ever traveled into the solar system. But beneath the triumph lies a turning point that will reshape how humanity reaches deep space forever. The Last of Its Kind: What Makes Artemis II So Historic Artemis II is not just a milestone. It is, in all likelihood, the final deep-space human mission that NASA will attempt without heavy reliance on Silicon Valley's private space companies. The rocket carrying the crew is called the Space Launch System, or SLS. It is the most powerful operational rocket in the world today, and it has only flown once before — on an uncrewed test flight around the moon that paved the way for this week's journey. Buil…