Artemis II Lifts Off, Sending Humans Back to the Moon

Four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft begin a historic 10-day mission around the lunar surface.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 5:05am

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A highly structured abstract painting in soft, earthy tones of green, blue, and orange, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric planetary circles, and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the complex forces and systems involved in the Artemis II mission to the Moon.The Artemis II mission will push the boundaries of human exploration, testing critical systems and paving the way for future lunar landings.Cape Canaveral Today

After years of development and technical hurdles, NASA's Artemis II mission is set to launch on Wednesday, April 1, sending four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon. The crew, which includes the first person of color and the first woman to venture into deep space, will test critical systems and pave the way for future Artemis missions to land humans on the lunar surface.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission marks the first crewed flight under NASA's Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon and eventually send astronauts to Mars. The diverse crew and advanced technologies being tested on this mission represent a significant shift in the demographics and capabilities of lunar exploration.

The details

The Artemis II mission will follow a 'hybrid free-return trajectory,' allowing the crew to return to Earth safely even if their primary propulsion systems fail. The 10-day flight will include critical tests of the Orion spacecraft's life support systems, navigation, and manual flight controls, as well as scientific experiments studying the effects of deep-space radiation on human cells.

  • The Artemis II mission is scheduled to launch on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at 6:24 p.m. EDT.
  • The crew will perform a 'lunar flyby' on Day 7, passing within 4,600 miles of the lunar surface and setting a new record for the farthest distance humans have traveled into space.
  • On Day 10, the Orion crew module will separate from the service module and reenter Earth's atmosphere at a speed of 25,000 mph, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego.

The players

G. Reid Wiseman

A veteran of the International Space Station (ISS) who previously served as the Chief of the Astronaut Office. Wiseman will serve as the mission's commander.

Victor J. Glover

Glover, who served as pilot on the SpaceX Crew-1 mission, will become the first person of color to travel to the Moon.

Christina Hammock Koch

A former engineer at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Koch will become the first woman to venture into deep space.

Jeremy Hansen

Representing the Canadian Space Agency, Hansen will be the first non-American to leave Earth orbit.

Jared Isaacman

The NASA Administrator who addressed the technical challenges faced during the Artemis II launch campaign.

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What they’re saying

“I think the nation and the world has been waiting a long time to do this again. The vehicle looks amazing on the pad... it's just been an awesome start to this journey.”

— G. Reid Wiseman, Mission Commander

“With more than three years between SLS launches, we fully anticipated encountering challenges. That is precisely why we conduct a wet dress rehearsal. We will only launch when we believe we are as ready to undertake this historic mission.”

— Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator

What’s next

The successful completion of the Artemis II mission will pave the way for Artemis III, currently targeted for late 2027 or 2028, which will mark the first return of humans to the lunar surface since the Apollo era.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission represents a significant milestone in the history of space exploration, not only for its technological advancements but also for the diverse crew that will carry humanity back to the Moon. This mission lays the groundwork for a new era of lunar exploration and the eventual journey to Mars.