NASA's Artemis II mission marks humanity's return to lunar vicinity after 50 years, with military pilots commanding the spacecraft. Navy test pilots Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover lead the four-person crew departing Kennedy Space Center this week. The Space Force tracks the rocket while the Air Force stands by for rescue and the Navy prepares for recovery duties – roles the military has performed since Apollo.

The military's space strategy has evolved dramatically, now viewing cislunar space as a potential "warfighting domain." President Trump's executive order extends defense capabilities all the way to the Moon, while Space Force develops a 15-year roadmap. Gen. Stephen Whiting confirms they will use Artemis II to refine tracking procedures for future lunar operations.

The Moon's strategic value stems from resources like water ice in permanently shadowed craters and near-constant sunlight on peaks. As nations establish lunar presence, the military aims to avoid being "caught flat-footed" protecting US interests. Gen. Chance Saltzman acknowledges NASA leads exploration while the military prepares to defend America's expanding presence in space.