NASA still plans to conduct plenty of tests involving the suit, including parabolic flight, which can simulate the partial gravity of the Moon’s surface. The agency has already put the suit through its paces underwater at NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Lab.

The SLS wet dress rehearsal is the rocket's last major hurdle before launch.

How well Artemis II manages its risks — untested hardware, deep-space distance, and limited escape options — will shape NASA's plans for future lunar landings and, potentially, human missions to Mars. A serious failure could revive long-standing questions about whether the dangers of deep space still justify sending people there.

History recalls the names of Borman, Lovell, and Anders; of Apollo 11’s Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin; of Apollo 13’s Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise. It may soon recall, as well, Artemis II’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen.

Artemis II also serves as a bridge to Artemis III, the mission where NASA plans to land astronauts near the moon's south pole, currently targeted for 2028. A credible, near-term human return signals that the U.S. is moving beyond experimentation and toward a sustained presence.