"We certainly sense the pressure" — A historic lunar mission may be imminent.

      One of the astronauts from Artemis II mentions that they are beginning to feel the pressure as the launch date approaches.

      As time passes, you find yourself watching a new video from a member of the Artemis II team, and he says something that grabs your attention.

      “We’re two-and-a-half months away from our first possible launch date,” NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman stated in his weekly update from the Johnson Space Center in Texas, where he, along with fellow NASA astronauts Victor Glover and Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, have been training since their crew announcement in 2023.

      Indeed, it’s true — humans might return to the moon as soon as February 2026.

      In the crew’s recent weekly update shared on X on Tuesday, Wiseman mentioned that as the launch seems to be near, “We certainly feel the pressure increasing; the team is getting prepared and refining our skills.”

      The Artemis II astronauts are engaged in continuous simulations! With only two and a half months until the first launch opportunity, the crew is collaborating with teams around the clock to get ready for the Artemis II mission around the Moon.

      Wiseman delivered his update from inside a mock-up of the Orion spacecraft that will take them on a 10-day journey around the moon. He also showcased the crew’s dependable Nikon D5 DSLR camera, which will capture significant images of their trip to Earth’s closest neighbor.

      While the crew will not be landing on the lunar surface, their mission sets the stage for Artemis III, which aims to land the first humans on the moon since the last Apollo mission in 1972. Artemis III is currently scheduled for 2027, although this date might change as NASA and its partners continue to work on the intricate preparations for this highly awaited mission.

      NASA tested the Orion spacecraft during the Artemis I mission in 2022. That flight revealed several issues with the capsule, which have since been addressed for its inaugural crewed flight. The SLS rocket that will carry the astronauts to space has also completed just one flight, which was during the Artemis I mission.

      The initial Artemis missions are establishing the groundwork for a lasting human presence on the moon, which includes building the Gateway lunar space station and planning future crewed missions to Mars.

      However, it is possible that the Artemis II crew won't launch in February, with some speculating a spring launch is more likely. Regardless, it genuinely feels like this historic human flight is on the verge of becoming a reality.

      Not long ago, Trevor relocated from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…

      In other news, SpaceX asserts that the Starship launch plan for 2026 remains on track despite a recent setback. The rocket's first stage experienced an anomaly during pre-flight testing on Friday, but SpaceX believes a launch is still feasible early next year.

      SpaceX has encountered a challenge as it prepares for the 12th launch of the robust Starship rocket. This upcoming launch is significant as it will test a new, enhanced version of the first-stage Super Heavy booster. However, during ground testing on Friday, an issue arose with the first stage, referred to as Booster 18.

      Furthermore, NASA astronaut Jonny Kim has shared stunning footage of the International Space Station’s robotic Canadarm2 “dancing” above the Earth. The 49-second timelapse, which incorporates more than two hours of footage, was recorded while Mission Control at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston rehearsed various maneuvers in anticipation of capturing the NG-23 Cygnus spacecraft in the coming days.

      In another development, NASA and Boeing are planning another attempt with the troubled Starliner spacecraft. The U.S. space agency released a statement on Monday expressing its continued commitment to the spacecraft, which has faced years of development challenges. The Starliner successfully transported its first crew to the International Space Station (ISS) last year, but the mission encountered various issues, leaving two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, stranded at the orbital outpost for nearly nine months instead of the intended few days.