No one in NASA’s Artemis II crew had been born when astronauts last ventured into deep space for the final Apollo program Moon landing in 1972. For the last half-century, human space efforts have focused on science research and technology initiatives aboard low-Earth-orbit spacecraft, culminating with the Inter-national Space Station.

As America approaches its 250th anniversary of declaring independence, NASA's Artemis II mission will carry a host of mementos that reflect the nation's long tradition of exploration, innovation, and leadership in its official flight kit.

The excitement is building as NASA works toward launching its first crewed lunar flight in more than five decades. The Artemis II mission, which will take four astronauts on a 10-day voyage around the moon,