NASA's Artemis II Crew Prepares for Historic Lunar Mission
NASA's Artemis II mission, set to launch on April 1, 2026, will send four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon, marking the first crewed lunar mission since 1972.
NASA's Artemis II mission is scheduled to launch on April 1, 2026, at 6:24 p.m. EDT from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39B. This 10-day mission will carry four astronauts on a journey around the Moon, marking the first crewed lunar mission since 1972. The crew comprises NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman (commander), Victor Glover (pilot), Christina Koch (mission specialist), and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen (mission specialist). Glover will be the first person of color, Koch the first woman, and Hansen the first non-American to travel beyond low Earth orbit. The mission aims to test the Orion spacecraft's life support systems and other critical technologies in deep space, paving the way for future lunar landings. The Artemis II crew arrived at Kennedy Space Center on March 27, 2026, to begin final preparations, including reviewing emergency procedures and undergoing a pre-launch quarantine to ensure their health.
