Two Maryland Astronauts Prepare for Historic Artemis II Moon Mission

NASA's Artemis II launch around the moon is scheduled for as early as April 1, with a crew that includes two astronauts with ties to Maryland.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 2:10am

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The countdown is on for NASA's Artemis II mission, the first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years, with a scheduled launch as early as April 1 from the Kennedy Space Center. Two of the four astronauts on the historic mission - Christina Koch and Reid Wiseman - have strong connections to Maryland, having previously worked at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory and Goddard Space Flight Center, and living in Cockeysville, respectively.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission represents a critical step in NASA's plan to return humans to the moon and eventually establish a sustainable presence, which could pave the way for future missions to Mars. The information gathered from this lunar flyby will help scientists better understand the early history of the Earth and solar system.

The details

The Artemis II crew is currently undergoing quarantine to ensure they don't get sick ahead of the upcoming flight. In addition to Commander Reid Wiseman, a Navy veteran who lives in Cockeysville and attended Dulaney High School, the crew includes astronaut Christina Koch, who previously worked at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel and at Goddard Space Flight Center.

  • The Artemis II mission is scheduled to launch as early as April 1, 2026.
  • This will be the first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years.

The players

Christina Koch

An astronaut who previously worked at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel and at Goddard Space Flight Center.

Reid Wiseman

The mission commander, a Navy veteran who lives in Cockeysville and attended Dulaney High School.

NASA

The U.S. space agency overseeing the Artemis II mission, which aims to return humans to the moon and eventually establish a sustainable presence there.

Noah Petro

A NASA project scientist who emphasizes the importance of studying the moon to understand the early history of the Earth and solar system.

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What they’re saying

“The information we get from the moon helps us understand what has been going on in our corner of the solar system.”

— Noah Petro, NASA project scientist

“When people look up at the moon, I don't want them to think, 'There's that far-off object.' There's something that's really close, that's effectively in our backyard. I like to think of the moon as the eighth continent of the Earth because its history is our history. When we study the moon, we're studying the earliest history of the Earth.”

— Noah Petro, NASA project scientist

What’s next

The Artemis II mission is a crucial step towards future lunar exploration and potential missions to Mars. NASA plans to follow up this crewed lunar flyby with the Artemis III mission, which aims to land astronauts on the moon's surface.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission, with two astronauts with Maryland ties, represents a significant milestone in NASA's Artemis program to return humans to the moon. The information gathered from this historic flight will not only deepen our understanding of the moon and the early solar system, but also pave the way for future ambitious goals, including a potential human mission to Mars.