Artemis Crew Reaches Moon, Approaches Record Distance

NASA's Artemis II mission makes historic journey to lunar orbit.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 11:43am

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The four astronauts of NASA's Artemis II mission have successfully entered the moon's orbit, marking a significant milestone in the agency's Artemis program. The crew is now approaching a record-breaking distance from Earth, further than any human has traveled in nearly 50 years.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission is a crucial step towards NASA's goal of returning humans to the lunar surface. This mission will pave the way for future Artemis missions, including the planned Artemis III landing that aims to put the first woman and first person of color on the moon.

The details

The Artemis II spacecraft, which includes the Orion crew capsule and a service module provided by the European Space Agency, successfully entered the moon's orbit after a multi-day journey from Earth. The crew, which includes two NASA astronauts, a Canadian astronaut, and a Japanese astronaut, will spend several days in lunar orbit, conducting scientific experiments and testing key systems before returning to Earth.

  • The Artemis II mission launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 3, 2026.
  • The crew entered the moon's orbit on April 6, 2026.

The players

NASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and space research.

Artemis II

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

Orion

The crew capsule that will transport the astronauts to and from the moon during the Artemis missions.

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What they’re saying

“This is a historic moment for our space program and for humanity. We are one step closer to returning humans to the lunar surface.”

— Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator

“The Artemis II crew is performing exceptionally well, and we are thrilled to see them make this important journey to the moon.”

— Kathy Lueders, Associate Administrator for NASA's Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate

What’s next

The Artemis II crew will continue their mission in lunar orbit, conducting scientific experiments and testing key systems, before returning to Earth in the coming days. The successful completion of this mission will pave the way for the Artemis III landing, which aims to put the first woman and first person of color on the lunar surface.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission represents a significant milestone in NASA's Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the moon and prepare for future missions to Mars. This mission's success brings us one step closer to realizing these ambitious goals and furthering our understanding of the lunar environment.