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Artemis II Crew Approaches Moon for Historic Flyby
NASA's Artemis II mission is on track as astronauts prepare for a lunar flyby.
Apr. 5, 2026 at 10:27am
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NASA's Artemis II crew of four astronauts is approaching the moon, having traveled more than 204,000 miles from Earth as of Sunday morning. The crew is expected to venture farther into space than any humans in history, paving the way for a moon landing as early as 2028. The Artemis II mission has an online tracker that allows the public to follow the spacecraft's location, speed, and distance from Earth and the moon in real-time.
Why it matters
The Artemis II mission is a critical step in NASA's plan to return astronauts to the lunar surface for the first time since the Apollo era. The successful completion of this mission will demonstrate key technologies and capabilities needed for future Artemis missions, including the first crewed Artemis landing, which is targeted for 2028.
The details
On Sunday, the Artemis II crew will enter the lunar sphere of influence, where the moon's gravity will become stronger than Earth's. They will conduct a series of tests and activities, including checking their spacesuits and practicing manual piloting. The crew will also prepare for a lunar flyby on Monday, when they will come within 4,000 to 6,000 miles of the moon's surface and observe features like craters, lava flows, and a solar eclipse.
- Artemis II crossed the 'two-thirds' point of its journey just after 10 p.m. on Saturday, April 4.
- As of 6 a.m. on Sunday, April 5, the spacecraft was more than 204,000 miles from Earth and traveling at 1,802 mph.
- The crew is expected to reach the lunar sphere of influence on Sunday, April 5.
The players
Artemis II
NASA's Artemis II mission, which is intended to send four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the moon and back to Earth.
NASA
The United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the government agency responsible for the Artemis program and the Artemis II mission.
Reid Wiseman
A NASA astronaut and the commander of the Artemis II mission.
Victor Glover
A NASA astronaut and the pilot of the Artemis II mission.
Christina Koch
A NASA astronaut and a mission specialist on the Artemis II mission.
Jeremy Hansen
A Canadian Space Agency astronaut and a mission specialist on the Artemis II mission.
What’s next
In 2027, another crew of astronauts is due to ride Orion to Earth orbit to test docking capabilities with commercial lunar landers. A lunar landing would then come in 2028 under Artemis IV.
The takeaway
The Artemis II mission is a critical milestone in NASA's plan to return astronauts to the lunar surface, paving the way for future Artemis missions that could establish a permanent human presence on the moon and potentially lead to the first crewed mission to Mars.
