How Jules Verne predicted the Artemis 2 mission to the moon almost 160 years ago

space.com Jun 14, 2026

How Jules Verne predicted the Artemis 2 mission to the moon almost 160 years ago

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Jun 14, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Jules Verne's 1865 novel "From the Earth to the Moon" bears striking similarities to the Artemis 2 mission. Verne's story involves a cannon launching a projectile to the moon, with calculations and reasoning that were remarkably prescient. The novel's details, such as launching near the equator to utilize the Earth's rotation, were later replicated by NASA. Although Verne made mistakes, his work demonstrates a keen understanding of escape velocity, orbital slingshots, and course-correction burns. The Artemis 2 mission's success has drawn comparisons to Verne's fictional journey, highlighting his visionary ideas. The mission's profile and Verne's story share eerie similarities, showcasing his ability to predict space travel concepts.

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