Artemis II Crew Prepares for Historic Moon Flyby

NASA's Artemis II mission will take astronauts closer to the moon than any humans since Apollo 17.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 3:24pm

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A bold, abstract painting in soft blues, greens, and grays, depicting the Artemis II spacecraft's elliptical orbit around the moon through sweeping geometric arcs and concentric circles, conveying the structural order and precision of the mission.The Artemis II mission will take astronauts closer to the moon than any humans since the Apollo era, testing key systems and paving the way for future crewed lunar exploration.San Diego Today

The four-person crew of NASA's Artemis II mission is set to orbit the moon, marking the first time since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972 that a group of astronauts has been that close to the Earth's lone moon. The Orion capsule containing the crew entered the lunar sphere of influence early on April 6, and the mission is expected to reach its closest point to the moon between 7:02 p.m. and 7:07 p.m. ET.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission is a crucial step in NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface by 2028. This mission will test the Orion spacecraft's instruments and systems in deep space, paving the way for future crewed missions to the moon.

The details

The Artemis II crew is not landing on the moon, but will instead circle it in orbit. The mission is expected to reach its maximum distance from Earth of 252,760 miles at 1:56 p.m. ET, surpassing the previous record set by the Apollo 13 crew in 1970. During the flyby, the astronauts will observe the near and far sides of the moon in shifts, capturing photos and conducting other scientific experiments. They will also witness a solar eclipse between 8:35 p.m. and 9:32 p.m. ET.

  • At 12:41 a.m. ET on April 6, the Orion capsule entered the lunar sphere of influence.
  • By 1:56 p.m. ET, the crew is expected to reach a maximum distance of 252,760 miles from Earth.
  • An observation period of roughly seven hours begins at 2:45 p.m. ET.
  • Mission control is expected to temporarily lose communication with the Artemis II crew at 6:44 p.m. ET while the spacecraft passes behind the moon.
  • Between 7:02 p.m. and 7:07 p.m. ET, the astronauts will be about 4,070 miles from the moon, the closest they will get during the mission.

The players

Artemis II

NASA's Artemis II mission, which will take a four-person crew on a 10-day journey to orbit the moon.

Orion Capsule

The spacecraft that will carry the Artemis II crew on their lunar flyby.

NASA

The U.S. space agency leading the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface by 2028.

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What’s next

The Artemis II mission is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego at approximately 8:07 p.m. ET on April 10, completing the 10-day journey.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission is a crucial step in NASA's ambitious Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface for the first time since the Apollo era. This mission will test key systems and pave the way for future crewed missions to the moon, marking a significant milestone in the exploration of our nearest celestial neighbor.