Artemis II Launches, Marking First Crewed Lunar Mission in Over 50 Years

NASA's Artemis II mission successfully launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 1, 2026, at 6:35 p.m. EDT. The mission carries four astronauts—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Jeremy Hansen—on a 10-day journey around the Moon, marking the first crewed lunar mission since Apollo 17 in 1972.

The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, featuring a Boeing-built core stage, powered the ascent, with the Orion spacecraft separating approximately eight and a half minutes into flight. The crew is set to perform a lunar flyby without landing, testing life-support systems and other critical technologies aboard Orion. This mission serves as a crucial step toward NASA's goal of returning humans to the Moon and establishing a sustainable presence there.

During the journey, the crew has shared striking images of Earth from space. One photograph, captured by Commander Reid Wiseman, shows a curved segment of Earth, while another displays the full globe adorned with clouds and a glowing green aurora. NASA's Lakiesha Hawkins remarked on the beauty and symbolic significance of these images, which represent all humanity except the four astronauts aboard.

The Artemis II mission is part of NASA's broader Artemis program, aiming to return humans to the Moon and eventually establish a sustainable lunar base. The mission also includes historic elements, such as international crew participation and advancing Moon exploration capabilities.

The crew is expected to reach lunar proximity by Monday, performing a flyby without landing before returning to Earth. Orion’s main engine was fired Thursday night to set the spacecraft on course. As Mission Control adjusted the capsule’s orientation, the crew witnessed a complete Earth framed against space, a moment they described as breathtaking. This mission is the first lunar voyage since Apollo 17 in 1972.

The mission is expected to set several human spaceflight records. Glover would become the first person of color, Koch the first woman, and Hansen the first non-U.S. citizen to travel beyond low Earth orbit. At a distance of approximately 4,700 miles beyond the Moon and an atmospheric reentry speed of about 25,000 mph, the mission would exceed previous crewed flight distance and reentry speed.

The successful launch and ongoing mission of Artemis II signify a significant milestone in space exploration, paving the way for future missions aimed at establishing a long-term human presence on the Moon and beyond.