NASA’s Artemis II: First Crewed Moon Mission in 50 Years Launches Successfully

NASA launched its Artemis II mission on April 1, 2026, marking the first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years. The launch, originating from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, sent the Orion spacecraft and its four astronauts – Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen – on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back to Earth. This mission is a critical step towards establishing a long-term human presence on the Moon and paving the way for future missions to Mars.

The launch occurred at 6:35:12 p.m. EDT on April 1, 2026, utilizing the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. According to NASA, the mission will test deep space systems and demonstrate capabilities essential for future lunar surface missions. The Orion spacecraft’s solar array wings fully deployed following launch, confirming a key configuration step for the mission. Each of the four wings unfolded as planned, beginning to generate power for the spacecraft.

The Artemis II crew includes Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen. Notably, Victor Glover, a former Cal Poly football player, is among the astronauts on this historic mission. This mission builds upon the success of the uncrewed Artemis I flight in 2022.

Mission Objectives and Trajectory

Artemis II is a crewed lunar flyby, meaning the spacecraft will orbit the Moon without landing. The planned trajectory will take the crew approximately 4,700 miles (7,600 kilometers) beyond the Moon’s surface. The 10-day mission is designed to rigorously test the Orion spacecraft and SLS rocket in a deep space environment. Key maneuvers, including the Perigee Raise Maneuver (PRM) and Apogee Raise Burn (ARB), will adjust the spacecraft’s orbit, preparing it for deep-space operations.

Following the launch, NASA confirmed the successful completion of the Perigee Raise Burn, which increases the lowest point of Orion’s orbit. The Artemis II crew and ground teams also successfully troubleshot an issue with Orion’s toilet during the initial phase of the mission, demonstrating their ability to address unexpected challenges in flight.

The Orion Spacecraft and SLS Rocket

The Orion spacecraft, developed by Lockheed Martin, is designed to carry astronauts to the Moon and eventually to Mars. The European Service Module (ESM-2), built by Airbus, provides essential power, propulsion, and life support systems for the spacecraft. Orion has a wingspan of roughly 63 feet when its solar arrays are fully deployed, with each wing containing 15,000 solar cells to convert sunlight into electricity.

The SLS rocket, NASA’s human deep space exploration vehicle, is responsible for launching Orion on its lunar journey. The launch from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39B marked the first crewed mission aboard the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft.

Recovery and Future Plans

The Artemis II mission is planned to conclude with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on or around April 11, 2026, at 5:21 p.m. PDT. The crew will be recovered by the U.S. Navy using a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock. This mission is a crucial precursor to Artemis III, which aims to land astronauts on the lunar surface, continuing NASA’s efforts to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson stated that the astronauts are “doing great” and the spacecraft is performing well, as of April 1, 2026. The agency will hold a postlaunch news conference from Kennedy Space Center to provide further updates on the mission’s progress.