NASA’s Artemis II Crew Flies Past Moon Ahead of 2028 Landing

NASA’s Artemis II crew flew past the moon on April 6, 2026, traveling farther from Earth than any humans in history. The mission marks the first time humans have returned to the lunar vicinity in more than 50 years, serving as a critical test for deep space systems ahead of planned lunar surface landings as early as 2028.

The crew of four astronauts traveled aboard the Orion spacecraft, which was launched by the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket from the Kennedy Space Center. During the flyby, the crew reached a maximum distance from Earth of 252,760 statute miles at 7:02 p.m. ET on April 6, surpassing the previous record of 248,655 statute miles set by the Apollo 13 mission.

Observations of the Lunar Far Side

As the spacecraft entered the lunar sphere of influence, where the moon’s gravity exerts more pull than Earth’s, the crew began observations of the lunar surface. The astronauts became the first humans to view sections of the moon’s far side in sunlight with the naked eye.

The crew described the far side as containing geometric patterns of greens, blues, and browns set against the typical gray shades of the moon. They reported seeing steep canyon walls and scratches across the lunarscape, with some areas appearing as if frozen ponds of choppy water or paved surfaces.

I just had an overwhelming sense of being moved by looking at the moon. The moon really is its own unique body in the universe. … When we have that perspective and we compare it to our home of the Earth, it just reminds us how much we have in common. Everything we need, the Earth provides, and that, in and of itself, is somewhat of a miracle.

NASA astronaut and Artemis II mission specialist Christina Koch

During the flyby, the crew proposed naming one of the sunlit craters on the far side after Carroll Wiseman, the late wife of Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman, who died in 2020.

Mission Objectives and Timeline

The 10-day mission is designed to demonstrate the capabilities of the Orion spacecraft and the SLS rocket for crewed deep space flight. This includes testing the vehicle’s ability to sustain a crew and return them safely to Earth.

Key milestones of the mission include:

• Launch: The mission launched on April 1, 2026.
• Lunar Flyby: The crew looped approximately 4,000 miles from the lunar surface on April 6, 2026.
• Communications: Contact with Earth was expected to be blocked for approximately 40 minutes as the vehicle circled the far side of the moon.
• Return: The crew is scheduled for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego, California, on April 10, 2026, at 8:07 p.m.

Artemis II builds on the results of the uncrewed Artemis I mission from 2022. The current flight is a necessary precursor to future Artemis missions that intend to return humans to the lunar surface and eventually pave the way for crewed missions to Mars.