NASA's Artemis II Crew Embarks on Historic Lunar Flyby

Four astronauts, including the first Black and female crew members, begin 10-day mission to the moon

Apr. 3, 2026 at 2:21pm

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A bold, abstract painting in soft blues, greens, and grays depicting the looping, geometric path of the Artemis II spacecraft as it orbits the moon, conveying the structural order and precision of the historic mission.The Artemis II spacecraft's historic lunar flyby will test key systems and hardware ahead of future missions to establish a permanent human presence on the moon.Today in Nashville

NASA's Artemis II mission has launched, marking the first crewed journey beyond Earth orbit since 1972. The four-person crew, which includes pilot Victor J. Glover and mission specialist Christina Koch, the first Black and female astronauts to make the journey, blasted off on April 1 and are now on a looping path around the moon. The mission is expected to last about 10 days, with the astronauts conducting tests and experiments before returning to Earth.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission is a critical step in NASA's plan to establish a permanent human presence on the lunar surface. This flight will test key systems and hardware ahead of future Artemis missions that aim to land astronauts on the moon, with the ultimate goal of using the moon as a launching point for future crewed missions to Mars.

The details

Artemis II's Orion spacecraft fired its main engine on April 2 for a final push towards the moon, sending the crew on a looping path around the lunar surface. NASA is providing real-time tracking of the spacecraft's location, speed, and distance from both the Earth and moon. If all goes according to plan, Artemis II is expected to reach the moon and complete a historic lunar flyby on April 6.

  • Artemis II launched on April 1, 2026.
  • The spacecraft's main engine fired on April 2, 2026 for a final push towards the moon.
  • Artemis II is expected to reach the moon and complete a lunar flyby on April 6, 2026.

The players

Victor J. Glover

NASA astronaut and pilot for the Artemis II mission.

Christina Koch

NASA astronaut and mission specialist, the first Black and female astronaut to journey beyond Earth orbit.

NASA

The U.S. federal agency leading the Artemis program and the Artemis II mission to the moon.

SpaceX

The commercial spaceflight company that is one of NASA's prime Artemis contractors, originally awarded the contract to develop a lunar lander.

Blue Origin

The aerospace company that is now being considered by NASA for the lunar lander contract amid concerns about SpaceX's Starship development.

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What’s next

After the Artemis II mission is complete, the astronauts will make a four-day journey back to Earth, using the planet's gravity to naturally pull the Orion spacecraft home. NASA is planning to establish a permanent foothold on the lunar south pole, using a series of crewed and uncrewed missions in the years ahead to build a moon base.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission marks a major milestone in NASA's ambitious plan to return humans to the lunar surface, paving the way for future missions that could establish a permanent human presence on the moon and potentially serve as a launching point for crewed expeditions to Mars.