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Artemis II Astronauts Reach Record-Breaking Heights in Lunar Orbit
NASA's Artemis II crew is 46,000 miles high, 184 times higher than the ISS, on a 10-day trip around the moon.
Apr. 2, 2026 at 2:34pm
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NASA's Artemis II mission has successfully launched, with the crew of four astronauts now orbiting the Earth at an altitude of 46,000 miles - 184 times higher than the International Space Station. This crucial test flight around the moon is setting the stage for a future NASA moon landing, with the astronauts expected to travel farther from Earth than any humans ever have, surpassing the Apollo 13 record.
Why it matters
The Artemis II mission is a critical step in NASA's plans to return humans to the lunar surface. By testing the Orion crew capsule in high-Earth orbit and during a lunar flyby, the agency is gathering vital data to ensure the safety and success of future Artemis missions, including a planned moon landing in 2028.
The details
The Artemis II astronauts - NASA's Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, as well as the Canadian Space Agency's Jeremy Hansen - launched on April 1 and are currently orbiting the Earth at an altitude of 46,000 miles. This is about 184 times higher than the typical orbit of the International Space Station, which circles the planet at around 250 miles above the surface. Over the next 10 days, the crew will travel toward the moon, swing around it, and then return to Earth, covering a total distance of approximately 685,000 miles.
- The Artemis II mission launched on April 1, 2026 at 6:35 p.m. ET from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
- As of April 2, 2026, the astronauts were orbiting the Earth at an altitude of 46,000 miles.
- The crew is expected to reach the moon and perform a lunar flyby on April 6, 2026.
- The Artemis II mission is scheduled to conclude with a water landing in the Pacific Ocean near California on April 10, 2026.
The players
Reid Wiseman
NASA astronaut on the Artemis II mission.
Victor Glover
NASA astronaut on the Artemis II mission.
Christina Koch
NASA astronaut on the Artemis II mission.
Jeremy Hansen
Canadian Space Agency astronaut on the Artemis II mission.
International Space Station
The aging 25-year-old orbital outpost that typically orbits the Earth at an altitude of 250 miles.
What’s next
The Artemis II astronauts will continue their 10-day journey around the moon, with a planned lunar flyby on April 6 and a return to Earth on April 10.
The takeaway
The Artemis II mission represents a significant milestone in NASA's Artemis program, as the agency works to establish a sustainable human presence on the lunar surface. By pushing the boundaries of human spaceflight, this test flight will provide invaluable data to ensure the success of future Artemis missions and the eventual return of astronauts to the moon.
