The Artemis II crew embarked on a historic mission, marking the first human lunar flyby since the Apollo era, with objectives to test spacecraft systems for future Moon exploration
NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket lifted off on April 1, 2026, at 6:35 p.m. EDT from Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carrying the Artemis II crew aboard the Orion spacecraft. This launch represents the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years, building on NASA's Artemis program to advance lunar exploration.
Mission Crew and Objectives
The crew includes NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. Their 10-day mission will test Orion's life support systems, conduct a manual piloting demonstration, and perform a lunar flyby to gather data for future Moon missions.
Shortly after launch, Orion deployed its solar array wings to harness energy from the Sun, allowing the spacecraft to transition to flight operations. About 49 minutes into the flight, the SLS upper stage fired to place Orion into an elliptical orbit around Earth, followed by a second burn to send it into a high Earth orbit extending 46,000 miles beyond the planet.
Orion will separate from the upper stage and release four CubeSats from international partners, including agencies from Argentina, Germany, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia, to conduct scientific investigations. The crew will then perform system checks and, if all systems are healthy, execute a translunar injection burn on April 2 to propel them toward the Moon.
During the lunar flyby on April 6, the astronauts will observe and photograph the Moon's surface, including parts of the far side, to study features enhanced by shadows. This mission will provide data on human health in space through investigations like AVATAR, informing preparations for sustained lunar presence and eventual Mars missions.
After the flyby, the crew will return to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean. NASA plans to use insights from Artemis II to support future missions, establishing a foundation for long-term Moon exploration and beyond.