Artemis 2: NASA’s Journey to the Moon

The Artemis II crew is currently mid-way between Earth and the Moon, having traveled 219,000 kilometers as part of NASA’s first crewed lunar flyby mission in more than 50 years. The mission serves as a critical test of deep space systems and the Orion spacecraft, paving the way for future crewed landings on the lunar surface and eventual missions to Mars.

The crew consists of four astronauts: NASA’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, alongside Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The team is operating the Orion spacecraft, which is designed to sustain crews during deep space exploration and ensure their safe return to Earth.

Mission Launch and Trajectory

The mission began on April 1, 2026, when the Space Launch System (SLS) heavy-lift rocket and the Orion spacecraft lifted off from Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 6:35 p.m. EDT. This flight marks the first time the SLS rocket has carried a human crew.

On April 2, 2026, the spacecraft performed a translunar injection burn, which involved a six-minute firing of the service module’s main engine. This maneuver accelerated the spacecraft to break free of Earth’s orbit and place the crew on a precise outbound trajectory toward the Moon.

Today, for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972, humans have departed Earth orbit. Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy now are on a precise trajectory toward the Moon. Orion is operating with crew for the first time in space, and we are gathering critical data, and learning from each step

Dr. Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters

Technical Objectives and Systems Testing

Artemis II is a 10-day test flight designed to demonstrate a broad range of capabilities required for long-term lunar presence. Unlike the later Artemis missions, this flight is a lunar flyby, meaning the crew will journey around the Moon without landing before returning to Earth.

The mission is utilizing the Orion spacecraft as the primary exploration vehicle. This spacecraft is developed to carry astronauts to the Moon and serve as a precursor for the technology needed to send humans to Mars. During the flight, the crew is tasked with gathering critical data and testing the spacecraft’s life support and navigation systems in a deep space environment.

Recent updates from the mission indicate that the crew has already begun publishing the first photographs of Earth taken from the Orion capsule as they move further away from the planet.

Return and Long-Term Goals

Following the lunar flyby, the Orion spacecraft is scheduled to return to Earth, where the mission will conclude with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. The entire operation is planned to last 10 days.

This mission builds upon the success of the uncrewed Artemis I flight conducted in 2022. By successfully testing the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft with a crew aboard, NASA intends to establish the foundation for sustainable human exploration of the Moon and future exploration of the Martian surface.