NASA's Artemis II Sends Astronauts on Historic Lunar Orbit

The Orion spacecraft embarks on a 10-day journey around the moon, marking a pivotal step toward future lunar landings.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 7:52am

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NASA's Artemis II mission successfully launched on April 1, 2026, sending four astronauts in the Orion spacecraft on a historic journey to orbit the moon. This landmark test flight comes more than half a century after the last Apollo mission, paving the way for future lunar landings and a permanent moon base.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission represents a major milestone in NASA's ambitious Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustained human presence on the lunar surface. This mission will test critical systems and provide valuable data to support future crewed missions to the moon, including the first woman and person of color to walk on the lunar surface.

The details

The Space Launch System rocket carried the Orion spacecraft, named 'Integrity,' into orbit and beyond. Aboard the spacecraft are astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. After reaching orbit, Orion will perform a series of maneuvers to enter a high Earth orbit and then a translunar trajectory, committing the crew to their journey around the moon. During the 10-day mission, the astronauts will travel about 4,600 miles beyond the moon's far side, setting a new record for the farthest distance traveled by humans.

  • The Artemis II mission launched on April 1, 2026, at 6:35 p.m. EDT.
  • Orion will perform a six-minute engine burn on April 2 to send the spacecraft on a translunar trajectory.
  • The mission will reach its maximum distance of 4,600 miles beyond the moon's far side on day six of the flight.
  • Orion is scheduled to return to Earth and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego on Friday, April 10.

The players

NASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and space research.

Orion

The Orion spacecraft, named 'Integrity,' that will carry the four astronauts on the Artemis II mission around the moon.

Reid Wiseman

One of the four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II mission.

Victor Glover

One of the four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II mission.

Christina Koch

One of the four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II mission, and the first woman to travel beyond low Earth orbit and journey toward the moon.

Jeremy Hansen

A Canadian Space Agency astronaut who is one of the four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II mission.

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What they’re saying

“This mission marks a pivotal step toward landing humans on the lunar surface once again — and this time, building a moon base.”

— Jamie Carter, Author

What’s next

After the successful completion of the Artemis II mission, NASA will continue to work towards the Artemis III mission, which aims to land the first woman and first person of color on the lunar surface.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission represents a significant milestone in humanity's return to the moon, paving the way for future crewed missions and the establishment of a permanent lunar presence. This mission will provide critical data and experience to support the ambitious goals of the Artemis program, including the historic landing of the first woman and person of color on the moon.