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Busy launch year ahead for Space Coast as Artemis II mission looms
The Space Coast is preparing for another active year of launches, beginning with a SpaceX mission scheduled around midnight Sunday that will send additional satellites into orbit.
The four astronauts who will be the first to fly to the moon under NASA’s Artemis campaign have continued the tradition to design their mission patch.
Here’s what to know about the Artemis II emblem:
Artemis II mission patch
The backstory:
NASA astronauts design the mission patches to tell the story of each shuttle mission, a tradition dating back to the 1960s. The astronauts choose pictures, colors and symbols that explain the importance of the mission and represent each of the astronauts on the team, according to NASA.
The four astronauts who will be the first to fly to the Moon under NASA’s Artemis campaign have designed an emblem to represent their mission that references both their distant destination and the home they will return to. The crew unveiled their pat …
Visual perspective:
The emblem representing the Artemis II mission references both the astronauts’ distant destination and the home they will return to.
It designates the mission as "AII," signifying the second flight of the campaign but also an endeavor of discovery that seeks to explore for all and by all, NASA said.
The official Artemis II mission crew patch. Image credit: NASA
What they're saying:
"Framed in Apollo 8’s famous Earthrise photo, the scene of the Earth and the Moon represents the dual nature of human spaceflight, both equally compelling: The Moon represents our exploration destination, focused on discovery of the unknown. The Earth represents home, focused on the perspective we gain when we look back at our shared planet and learn what it is to be uniquely human," NASA said.
"The orbit around Earth highlights the ongoing exploration missions that have enabled Artemis to set sights on a long-term presence on the Moon and soon, Mars."
RELATED: What does the Artemis symbol mean?
Artemis missions
Big picture view:
Through Artemis, NASA will send astronauts to explore the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and build the foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars.
NASA’s Artemis program, a follow-up to the Apollo moonshots of the late 1960s and early 1970s, has completed one mission thus far. An empty Orion capsule circled the moon in 2022 after blasting off on NASA’s new Space Launch System rocket.
What's next:
The Artemis II mission, flying four astronauts around the moon and back, is targeted for April 2026. It had been on the books for September 2025.
This bumps the third Artemis mission — a moon landing by two other astronauts — to at least 2027. NASA had been aiming for 2026.
The Source: Information in this article was taken from NASA. Background information was taken from NASA, previous FOX Television Station reportings and The Associated Press. This story was reported from Detroit.