Artemis II Astronauts Rocket Toward the Moon After Spending a Day Around Earth

NASA's historic mission breaks free of Earth's orbit for the first lunar flyby in over 50 years.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 1:00am

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A highly structured abstract painting in muted earth tones, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise spiraling forms, conveying the complex forces and concepts of the Artemis II mission to the moon.The Artemis II mission marks a historic leap forward in humanity's return to the moon, as a diverse crew of astronauts embarks on a lunar flyby that will push the boundaries of human space exploration.Cape Canaveral Today

NASA's Artemis II astronauts successfully fired their engines and blazed a path toward the moon on Thursday night, breaking free of Earth's orbit after spending a day testing the Orion capsule's systems. The crew of four - three Americans and one Canadian - are now on course for a lunar flyby early next week, becoming the farthest humans have ever traveled from Earth.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission marks a major milestone in NASA's ambitious plan to establish a sustained human presence on the moon, paving the way for future lunar landings and the construction of a permanent moon base. This mission also represents a historic moment, as the crew includes the first Black, first woman, and first non-U.S. citizen to travel to the moon.

The details

The critical engine firing, known as the translunar ignition, occurred 25 hours after the Artemis II crew launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida. This put the spacecraft on a trajectory to fly around the moon before returning to Earth. During the day spent in Earth's orbit, the astronauts tested the Orion capsule's life-support systems before being cleared for the lunar departure.

  • On April 3, 2026, the Artemis II astronauts launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
  • 25 hours after liftoff, the crew fired their engines and broke free of Earth's orbit, setting a course for the moon.
  • The Artemis II crew is expected to perform a lunar flyby on April 10, 2026.

The players

Reid Wiseman

The commander of the Artemis II mission.

Victor Glover

The pilot of the Artemis II spacecraft.

Christina Koch

One of the four Artemis II astronauts, making history as the first woman to travel to the moon.

Jeremy Hansen

The Canadian astronaut on the Artemis II crew, the first non-U.S. citizen to travel to the moon.

Orion

The spacecraft that is carrying the Artemis II crew to the moon.

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What they’re saying

“We are ready to go.”

— Victor Glover, Pilot

“With this burn to the moon, we do not leave Earth. We choose it.”

— Christina Koch, Astronaut

What’s next

The Artemis II crew is expected to perform a lunar flyby on April 10, 2026, coming within 4,000 miles of the moon and providing unprecedented views of the lunar far side.

The takeaway

The successful Artemis II mission marks a major step forward in NASA's ambitious plans to return humans to the moon, paving the way for future lunar landings and the establishment of a permanent moon base. The diverse crew also represents a historic milestone, with the first Black, first woman, and first non-U.S. citizen to travel to the moon.