In the same way that Artemis II serves as the first crewed flight to test technology for future missions to the moon and Mars, Apollo 8, which launched on Dec. 21, 1968, also served as a lunar landing preparation mission, preceding Apollo 11's July 1969 lunar landing.

It’s humanity’s first flight to the moon since 1972.

The custom suits are equipped with survival gear in case the crew has to exit the spacecraft after splashdown — and are easily visible in the ocean.