NASA's Artemis II Moon Mission Launches Today

The long-awaited crewed lunar flyby mission will send 4 astronauts on a historic journey.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 3:30pm

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NASA's Artemis II mission is set to launch four astronauts on a journey around the moon today at 6:24 p.m. ET from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. This highly anticipated crewed lunar flyby mission marks a major milestone in the agency's Artemis program to return humans to the moon.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission is a critical step towards NASA's goal of landing the first woman and next man on the lunar surface by 2024. This mission will test key systems and capabilities needed for future Artemis missions that will establish a sustainable human presence on and around the moon.

The details

Artemis II will send four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the moon, coming within 60 miles of the lunar surface. The crew will perform a series of experiments and observations during the flight, which will help prepare for future Artemis missions that will land astronauts on the moon.

  • The Artemis II mission is scheduled to launch at 6:24 p.m. ET on April 2, 2026.
  • The 10-day crewed lunar flyby mission is expected to return the astronauts to Earth on April 12, 2026.

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

“The Artemis II mission is a critical step towards our goal of landing the first woman and next man on the lunar surface by 2024.”

— Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator

What’s next

After the successful completion of the Artemis II mission, NASA will move forward with the Artemis III mission, which is planned to land astronauts on the moon in 2024.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission represents a major milestone in NASA's ambitious plan to return humans to the moon, paving the way for future Artemis missions that will establish a sustainable human presence on the lunar surface.