Artemis II Reaches Lunar Space

NASA's Orion spacecraft begins historic mission to the Moon

Apr. 6, 2026 at 7:08am

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NASA's Artemis II mission has reached lunar space, marking the first time humans have visited another celestial body in this millennium. The Orion spacecraft, named Integrity, is carrying NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch on this historic journey to orbit the Moon.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission is a critical step in NASA's long-term goal of returning humans to the lunar surface. This mission will test key systems and pave the way for future Artemis missions that aim to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon.

The details

Artemis II's Orion spacecraft, named Integrity, successfully entered lunar space shortly after midnight on April 6. The spacecraft is carrying a crew of three NASA astronauts: Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch. During the mission, the crew will perform a series of tests and experiments to evaluate Orion's systems and prepare for future Artemis missions.

  • Artemis II arrived in lunar space shortly after midnight on April 6, 2026.

The players

Artemis II

NASA's second mission in the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface.

Orion spacecraft

The spacecraft that will carry astronauts on Artemis missions, named Integrity for this particular flight.

Reid Wiseman

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

Victor Glover

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

Christina Koch

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

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What they’re saying

“This is a momentous occasion for NASA and the entire space community. Artemis II is paving the way for future missions that will establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon.”

— Reid Wiseman, Artemis II Astronaut

What’s next

The Artemis II crew will spend several days in lunar orbit, conducting experiments and testing Orion's systems. If all goes well, they will then return to Earth, paving the way for future Artemis missions that aim to land astronauts on the lunar surface.

The takeaway

The successful arrival of Artemis II in lunar space marks a historic milestone for NASA and the future of human space exploration. This mission lays the groundwork for the Artemis program's long-term goal of establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon.