Science Quickly Artemis II returned safely from the moon—but was it worth it?
Apr 13, 2026
Emma Gomez, newsletter editor who focuses on cultural and equity angles; Joe Howlett, staff reporter on costs and public reaction; Claire Cameron, breaking news director on timelines and logistics; Lee Billings, senior editor on space and physics. They debate Artemis II’s performance, future mission plans, budget and climate tradeoffs, ethical and governance concerns, and how exploration differs from colonialism.
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Artemis II Validated Orion And SLS Performance
- Artemis II served as a high‑stakes shakedown demonstrating Orion and SLS systems across translunar injection and lunar flyby.
- Orion's European main engine performed so well some planned correction burns were unnecessary, proving core vehicle reliability.
Toilet Fail Became A Notable Mission Headache
- Artemis II experienced unexpected issues with the onboard toilet system during the lunar flyby.
- The mission included the first fully functioning toilet to orbit the moon, but it did not function to plan.
Artemis 3 Focuses On Docking And Lander Integration
- Artemis 3 will test orbital stopoffs and a lunar lander interface, a crucial step beyond mere flybys toward crewed surface missions.
- Future lander candidates include SpaceX Starship or Blue Origin vehicles and new spacesuit tests are planned.