Artemis II Crew Embarks on Historic Lunar Flyby

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—Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen—on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back to Earth. This marks the first crewed lunar mission since 1972.

The crew includes the first woman, the first person of color, and the first non-U.S. citizen to participate in a lunar mission. The Orion spacecraft, named Integrity by the crew, will perform a lunar flyby, reaching a record distance from Earth before returning. The mission aims to test life-support systems and manual controls aboard Orion, laying the groundwork for future lunar landings planned for 2028.

Shortly after launch, the Orion spacecraft's solar array wings fully deployed, completing a key configuration step. The perigee raise maneuver was successfully completed, refining Orion's orbit around Earth. A brief loss of communications occurred but was quickly resolved, with the crew confirming they maintained the ability to hear ground communications throughout.

The Artemis program aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon, serving as a stepping stone for future missions to Mars. Artemis II builds on the success of the uncrewed Artemis I mission in 2022 and is a critical step toward achieving these long-term exploration goals.