Artemis II Leaves Earth's Orbit, Heads Toward Moon

NASA's Artemis II crew completes critical engine burn, setting course for lunar flyby

Apr. 3, 2026 at 7:36am

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A bold, abstract painting in earthy tones of ochre, sage green, and deep blue, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric planetary circles, and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the complex forces and concepts of the Artemis II mission to the moon.The Artemis II mission's historic departure from Earth's orbit marks a new era of lunar exploration, as humanity's hopes for the future propel us farther into the cosmos.Cape Canaveral Today

NASA's Artemis II mission has successfully left Earth's orbit and is now headed toward the moon. The four-person crew, including the first Black person, first woman, and first non-U.S. citizen to travel to the moon, fired their engines on Thursday night to break free of Earth's gravity and begin their journey. They will perform a lunar flyby early next week before returning to Earth, marking the farthest humans have ever traveled from our planet.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission is a crucial test flight for NASA's ambitious Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustained human presence on the moon and eventually send astronauts to Mars. This mission will pave the way for future lunar landings and help advance our understanding of long-duration spaceflight.

The details

The Artemis II crew, consisting of Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, fired their engines flawlessly on Thursday night, accelerating their Orion capsule to over 24,000 mph to escape Earth's orbit. During the journey, they will travel farther from Earth than any humans since the Apollo 13 mission in 1970. The crew will perform a lunar flyby, coming within 4,000 miles of the moon, and will even experience a total solar eclipse as the moon blocks the sun from their perspective.

  • On April 3, 2026, the Artemis II crew launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
  • On April 4, 2026, the crew fired their engines to leave Earth's orbit and begin their journey to the moon.
  • On April 10, 2026, the Artemis II crew is expected to return to Earth, potentially setting a new record for the fastest reentry.

The players

Reid Wiseman

The commander of the Artemis II mission, a veteran NASA astronaut who has previously flown on the International Space Station.

Victor Glover

The pilot of the Artemis II mission, who is the first Black person to travel to the moon.

Christina Koch

A member of the Artemis II crew, who is the first woman to travel to the moon.

Jeremy Hansen

A Canadian astronaut who is the first non-U.S. citizen to travel to the moon as part of the Artemis II mission.

Lori Glaze

A NASA official who announced the successful departure of the Artemis II crew from Earth's orbit.

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What they’re saying

“Ladies and gentlemen, I am so, so excited to be able to tell you that for the first time since 1972 during Apollo 17, human beings have left Earth orbit.”

— Lori Glaze, NASA Official

“Humanity has once again shown what we are capable of, and it's your hopes for the future that carry us now on this journey around the moon.”

— Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II Astronaut

“Trust us, you look amazing. You look beautiful. And from up here you also look like one thing: homo sapiens as all of us no matter where you're from or what you look like, we're all one people.”

— Victor Glover, Artemis II Astronaut

“I've got to tell you, there is nothing normal about this. Sending four humans 250,000 miles away is a herculean effort, and we are now just realizing the gravity of that.”

— Reid Wiseman, Artemis II Commander

What’s next

The Artemis II crew will perform a lunar flyby on April 6, 2026, coming within 4,000 miles of the moon before turning back toward Earth. They are expected to return to Earth on April 10, 2026, potentially setting a new record for the fastest reentry.

The takeaway

The successful departure of the Artemis II mission from Earth's orbit marks a significant milestone in humanity's return to the moon. This mission paves the way for future Artemis program goals, including a planned moon landing by 2028, and represents the first time in over 50 years that humans have ventured beyond Earth's immediate vicinity. The diverse crew of the Artemis II mission also reflects the growing diversity and inclusivity of space exploration.