Historic Journey Begins
NASA's Artemis II mission successfully launched on April 1, 2026, from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, marking the first time humans have ventured beyond Earth's orbit since 1972. The four-member crew — NASA Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen — lifted off at 6:35 p.m. ET aboard the powerful Space Launch System rocket.
After spending roughly a day in high Earth orbit conducting critical systems checks, the crew executed a flawless translunar injection burn on April 3. The five-minute, 55-second engine firing propelled the Orion spacecraft out of Earth's gravitational pull and onto a path toward the Moon.
"Humanity has once again shown what we are capable of. It's your hopes for the future that carry us now on this journey around the Moon," Hansen told mission control from the Orion capsule.
Breaking Records in Deep Space
The 10-day mission will carry the astronauts up to 252,799 miles (406,840 km) from Earth — exceeding the previous distance record set by Apollo 13 in 1970 by more than 4,000 miles. The crew will not land on the Moon during this mission but will swing around its far side, coming within 6,000 miles of the lunar surface.
This historic flyby makes Glover the first Black astronaut to travel to the Moon's vicinity, Koch the first woman, and Hansen the first Canadian to do so. As they cruise beyond the Moon on approximately day six of their mission, the crew will witness a total solar eclipse from space — the Moon sliding directly in front of the Sun with Earth visible off to one side.
Testing for Future Moon Landings
Artemis II serves as a crucial test flight for NASA's ambitious plans to return humans to the lunar surface. During their journey, the astronauts will act as both scientists and test subjects, collecting vital data on how long-distance space travel affects the human body. They'll thoroughly test the Orion capsule's life-support systems, navigation equipment, and emergency procedures.
Dr. Lori Glaze of NASA confirmed the translunar injection went "flawlessly," with mission manager Howard Hu beaming at reporters: "What a great couple of days!"
Path to Mars and Beyond
The Artemis program represents NASA's long-term vision to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon, particularly at the south pole where water ice is abundant. This ice could provide drinking water, breathable oxygen, and even rocket fuel for future missions.
Key mission milestones include:
- Moon flyby scheduled for April 6, 2026
- Return to Earth via Pacific Ocean splashdown on April 10
- Artemis III moon landing planned for 2028
- Future missions to establish lunar base and prepare for Mars exploration
The crew has access to NASA's real-time tracker, available online and via mobile app, allowing the public to follow their journey. The augmented reality feature even lets users point their phones skyward to see where Orion is relative to Earth.
Safe Return Home
After completing their lunar flyby, the astronauts will begin a four-day journey back to Earth. The spacecraft will use our planet's gravity to naturally pull Orion home, conserving fuel. Upon re-entry, a protective heat shield will protect the crew as they blaze through Earth's atmosphere at 30 times the speed of sound.
Parachutes will deploy to slow the capsule's descent before a water landing in the Pacific Ocean near California. Five orange airbags will inflate around the top of the spacecraft, flipping it upright. A recovery vessel will retrieve the crew within approximately two hours of splashdown.
As Wiseman radioed from orbit while watching Earth shrink behind them: "We have a beautiful moonrise, we're headed right at it."