On April 1, 2026, NASA launched Artemis II from Kennedy Space Center, sending four astronauts on a mission to orbit the Moon and return to Earth. The flight marks the first time humans have traveled beyond low-Earth orbit since the Apollo era.
The mission lifted off at 6:24 p.m. EDT aboard the Space Launch System, carrying the crew inside the Orion spacecraft. It is the first crewed test flight of both systems, which form the backbone of NASA’s long-term lunar exploration strategy.
The Artemis II crew is commanded by Reid Wiseman, with Victor Glover serving as pilot. Mission specialists include Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency, marking Canada’s first astronaut assigned to a lunar mission.
Over an approximately 10-day flight, the crew will travel around the Moon and return, conducting system tests critical to future lunar landings and eventual human missions to Mars.
The launch drew more than 15.9 million viewers across platforms, underscoring renewed global interest in human spaceflight. Artemis II represents a transition from demonstration to sustained exploration, with subsequent missions expected to include lunar surface operations.
Watch the Launch
Key Moments from the Launch
- T-00:00 — Liftoff
Space Launch System departs Kennedy Space Center. - T+02:00 — Booster Separation
Solid rocket boosters detach following initial ascent. - T+08:00 — Core Stage Cutoff
Main stage burn concludes as the vehicle reaches orbital trajectory. - T+~18:00 — Orion Separation
Orion spacecraft begins independent flight. - Post-Launch — Translunar Phase Preparation
Systems checks and trajectory adjustments set course for lunar flyby.
Credit: NASA