First Moon Mission in Over 50 Years Lifts Off

NASA's Artemis I uncrewed test flight marks a new era of lunar exploration.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 6:09pm

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A bold, abstract painting in soft earth tones featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise spirals, conceptually representing the complex systems and forces involved in the Artemis I mission to the moon.NASA's ambitious Artemis program aims to return humans to the moon, launching a new era of lunar exploration and discovery.Cape Canaveral Today

For the first time since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972, a spacecraft carrying humans is headed to the moon. NASA's Artemis I mission, an uncrewed test flight of the agency's new Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida on March 31, 2026, kicking off a new era of lunar exploration.

Why it matters

The Artemis program aims to establish a sustainable human presence on and around the moon, paving the way for future missions to Mars. This uncrewed test flight will validate key systems before the first crewed Artemis mission, which is planned for 2027 and will include the first woman and first person of color to walk on the lunar surface.

The details

Artemis I will send the Orion spacecraft on a 25-day journey around the moon, testing its life support systems and other critical capabilities. If successful, the mission will clear the way for Artemis II, which will fly astronauts around the moon in 2024, and Artemis III, which will land crew on the lunar surface in 2027.

  • The Artemis I mission lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida on March 31, 2026.
  • The uncrewed Orion spacecraft is expected to orbit the moon for approximately 25 days before returning to Earth.

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.

Artemis Program

NASA's program to return humans to the moon, with the goal of establishing a sustainable human presence on and around the lunar surface.

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What they’re saying

“This is a big step in our Artemis journey to the moon.”

— Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator

“We're going back to the moon, this time to stay.”

— Jim Bridenstine, Former NASA Administrator

What’s next

If the Artemis I mission is successful, NASA plans to launch Artemis II, a crewed mission around the moon, in 2024, followed by Artemis III, which will land astronauts on the lunar surface in 2027.

The takeaway

The launch of Artemis I marks a significant milestone in the return of human exploration to the moon, paving the way for a new era of lunar missions that could lead to a sustained human presence on the moon and eventually enable future missions to Mars.