NASA's Artemis II Mission Prepares for Historic Moon Voyage

Four astronauts set to travel farther into space than any humans in over 50 years

Mar. 31, 2026 at 5:50pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A highly textured, geometric abstract painting in earthy tones, depicting the intricate systems and forces involved in the Artemis II mission to the Moon through sweeping arcs, concentric circles, and precise spirals, conveying the structural order and technical complexity of the deep space voyage.An abstract visualization of the complex systems and forces powering NASA's Artemis II mission, the critical next step in humanity's return to the Moon.Houston Today

NASA's Artemis II mission is scheduled to launch on April 1st, sending four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft on a journey to orbit the Moon. This will be the first crewed test flight of the agency's return-to-the-Moon program, with the goal of proving the spacecraft's systems can safely transport humans to deep space and back.

Why it matters

Artemis II is a critical proving ground for the technologies and procedures that will eventually enable NASA to land astronauts on the lunar surface again for the first time since the Apollo era. The mission will test life support, navigation, communication, and other key systems needed for future Artemis missions to the Moon and, ultimately, Mars.

The details

During the Artemis II mission, the four-person crew will first orbit the Earth twice to ensure all systems are functioning properly. They will then perform a powerful burn to send the Orion spacecraft on a trajectory around the far side of the Moon, something no human has done since the Apollo program. The astronauts will manually pilot the spacecraft for critical maneuvers, giving NASA valuable data on how the systems perform with human control. Upon returning to Earth, Orion will use the natural gravity of the Earth-Moon system to swing back home, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean where recovery teams will retrieve the crew.

  • Artemis II is scheduled to launch on April 1, 2026 at 5:24 pm CDT.
  • The spacecraft is expected to travel around the far side of the Moon over the course of about 4 days.
  • Orion is slated to splash down in the Pacific Ocean following its return to Earth.

The players

Artemis II

NASA's second mission in the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface for the first time since the Apollo era.

Orion Spacecraft

The crew capsule that will transport the four astronauts on the Artemis II mission, launched atop the Space Launch System rocket.

Space Launch System

The powerful rocket that will propel the Orion spacecraft on its journey to the Moon, known as the Integrity for this mission.

NASA's Johnson Space Center

The mission control center in Houston, Texas that will monitor and support the Artemis II astronauts throughout their flight.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Weather plays a huge role in whether a launch even happens. NASA has strict rules - too much lightning, winds too strong, or rain/storms along the flight path and they won't launch.”

— Anthony Yanez, Meteorologist

“This mission isn't about landing on the Moon. It's about proving we can safely get there and back.”

— Anthony Yanez, Meteorologist

What’s next

If Artemis II is successful, the next step will be Artemis III, the mission that aims to land humans on the Moon again for the first time since the Apollo program.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission is a critical stepping stone in NASA's ambitious plan to return humans to the lunar surface and eventually send astronauts to Mars. By thoroughly testing the Orion spacecraft's systems and procedures in deep space, this mission will help pave the way for the next generation of lunar exploration.