And they also need to perfect the spacesuits that a new generation of astronauts would actually wear on the lunar surface. SN astronomy writer Lisa Grossman maps out the detour. Before any actual moon landing,

Artemis II is designed to carry humans around the Moon and back on a path that can bring them safely home even if their main engine never lights again. Instead of relying solely on propulsion, the mission leans on a carefully tuned “free return” loop ...