NASA’s Artemis II mission around the Moon will be “a grand success,” according to ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan, who has hailed it as a major step toward future human landings on the lunar surface. Speaking in Kerala after receiving the K.P.P. Nambiar Award, he said he is “100% sure” the flight will achieve its goals and help prepare the way for the Artemis III Moon‑landing mission.
Artemis II is NASA’s first crewed mission of the Artemis programme, planned to send four astronauts on a 10‑day flight around the Moon and back, testing the Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System (SLS) in deep space. The crew includes NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. This flight follows successful uncrewed Artemis I and is meant to validate systems for later human Moon landings.
Narayanan described Artemis II as a “great effort” in human spaceflight and scientific exploration, noting that it builds on past Moon landings and modern technology. India became the 27th signatory of the Artemis Accords in 2023, which allows collaboration with NASA on lunar and deep‑space programmes, including data sharing and joint standards. ISRO’s experience with Chandrayaan‑3 and future Gaganyaan human‑spaceflight missions is expected to strengthen this global partnership.
If Artemis II succeeds, it will advance plans for a sustainable lunar base and act as a stepping stone for future missions to Mars. For India, closer ties with NASA under the Artemis framework can help transfer knowledge, improve launch reliability, and support cost‑effective deep‑space missions. Narayanan’s optimism reflects a broader view that continued international cooperation is key to the next era of Moon and interplanetary exploration.
FAQs [Frequently Asked Questions]
1. What did ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan say about Artemis II?
He said NASA’s Artemis II mission will be “a grand success” and a key step toward future human Moon landings, expressing full confidence in its outcome.
2. What does Artemis II aim to do?
Artemis II will send four astronauts on a 10‑day trip around the Moon in the Orion spacecraft to test deep‑space systems before later landing missions.
3. What is India’s role in Artemis?
India has signed the Artemis Accords, allowing cooperation with NASA on lunar and deep‑space projects, data sharing, and joint standards for future missions.
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