NASA's Artemis 2 mission set for historic Moon journey

The first crewed lunar mission since 1972 will launch from Florida as early as April 1.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 1:51am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

NASA's Artemis 2 mission is set to launch on Wednesday, sending a crew of three Americans and one Canadian on a historic journey around the Moon. This will be the first crewed lunar mission since the Apollo 8 flight in 1968, and will mark several milestones, including the first person of color, first woman, and first non-American to travel to the Moon. The mission aims to verify the performance of the new SLS rocket and spacecraft ahead of a planned Moon landing in 2028.

Why it matters

The Artemis program represents a new era of lunar exploration for the United States, with the goal of establishing a permanent presence on the Moon. This mission is a critical step towards that goal, testing the capabilities of the new SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft. It also has symbolic significance, inspiring the next generation of space explorers and demonstrating American leadership in space.

The details

The Artemis 2 crew consists of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The approximately 10-day mission will see the crew travel around the Moon without landing, similar to the Apollo 8 mission in 1968. The launch is scheduled for as early as April 1 at 6:24 pm EDT from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission has faced several delays due to technical issues, but NASA officials have expressed confidence that the vehicle, systems, and crew are now ready for launch.

  • The Artemis 2 mission is scheduled to launch as early as April 1, 2026 at 6:24 pm EDT.
  • The mission is expected to last approximately 10 days.

The players

Reid Wiseman

A NASA astronaut who is part of the Artemis 2 crew.

Victor Glover

A NASA astronaut who is part of the Artemis 2 crew.

Christina Koch

A NASA astronaut who is part of the Artemis 2 crew.

Jeremy Hansen

A Canadian astronaut who is part of the Artemis 2 crew.

Amit Kshatriya

The associate administrator for the US space agency NASA, who has expressed confidence in the readiness of the Artemis 2 mission.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The moon is a witness plate to our entire solar system's formation. It's a stepping stone to Mars, where we might have the most likelihood of finding evidence of past life, but it's also a Rosetta Stone for how other solar systems form.”

— Christina Koch, NASA Astronaut

“We'll have to monitor those feisty cumulus clouds and potentially a few showers and breezes as well, but none of those look particularly vigorous and we should be able to find some clear air to launch Artemis.”

— Mark Burger, Launch Weather Officer

“I guarantee after these astronauts fly around the moon, you're going to have more kids dressing up as astronauts for Halloween. And that's going to inspire the next generation to take us further.”

— Jared Isaacman, NASA Head

What’s next

If the April 1 launch is canceled or delayed, there are additional liftoff opportunities through April 6, although weather later in the week may be less favorable. NASA is aiming for the Artemis 2 mission to pave the way for a return to the lunar surface and a Moon landing in 2028.

The takeaway

The Artemis 2 mission represents a significant milestone in the renewed American effort to explore the Moon, with the goal of establishing a permanent human presence. This mission will test critical systems and inspire the next generation of space explorers, as the US competes with other nations like China in the new space race.