NASA's Artemis II Launches First Crewed Lunar Mission in Over 50 Years
NASA's Artemis II mission successfully launched, marking the first crewed lunar flight since 1972, as the U.S. reenters a competitive space exploration landscape.
NASA's Artemis II mission successfully launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 1, 2026, at 6:35 p.m. ET. This marks the first crewed lunar flight since 1972, with astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Jeremy Hansen embarking on a 10-day journey around the Moon.
The mission aims to conduct a crewed lunar flyby, bringing humanity closer to the Moon than at any time since the Apollo programs. The crew will perform a figure-eight slingshot maneuver around the far side of the Moon, without entering lunar orbit.
This launch signifies a renewed U.S. commitment to lunar exploration amid advancements by other nations. China, for instance, has made significant strides, including landing on and retrieving samples from the Moon's far side.
NASA's Artemis program plans to establish a sustainable lunar presence, with future missions aiming to land astronauts on the Moon's surface and build infrastructure for deep space exploration.
President Trump addressed the nation following the launch, praising both NASA and the astronauts involved.
The Artemis II mission represents a significant milestone in space exploration, as the U.S. reenters a competitive space race with a focus on long-term lunar exploration and potential future missions to Mars.