Artemis II Takes Off for the Moon: NASA Begins Its 10-Day Moon Journey

NASA's Artemis II mission was launched successfully on April 1, 2026, at 6:35 p.m. ET from Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39B in Florida. 

The Artemis II four-person crew comprising Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialists Christina Koch (NASA), and Jeremy Hansen (CSA) embarked on the 10-day mission in the Orion spacecraft carried by the SLS rocket. 

The Artemis II mission is the first time humanity is venturing into deep space since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. 

Tests Orion spacecraft for Artemis III landing in 2027. The free-return trajectory will utilize the gravity of the Moon to enable the spacecraft to loop back towards Earth, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean on April 11.

SLS launched with 8.8 million pounds of thrust power, carrying the Orion spacecraft into Earth orbit.

Artemis II Takes Off for the Moon: NASA Begins Its 10-Day Moon Journey

The Artemis II Rocket SLS did not lift off its pad as much as it vaulted off, launching its four-person Artemis II mission crew on a 10-day trip around the far side of the moon and back, further from Earth than any human has ever gone.

The crew monitored systems after launch, and live NASA TV broadcasts showed cheers coming from Mission Control Houston. 

Orion separated nicely, solar arrays out, and all set for the outbound coast. First trajectory correction burn on Day 2 will fine-tune course amidst global cheers.

When will Artemis 2 Reach the Moon?

Artemis II will arrive in the lunar vicinity on Day 4-5 (April 5-6), within 4,047 miles of the lunar farside in the closest human view. 

The crew will perform flyby experiments, including deep space communications and radiation shielding tests. The moon's gravity will send Orion on its way back on a free return trajectory.

Artemis II Crew and Mission Milestones

Wiseman is in charge of the diverse crew, including the first Canadian beyond low orbit.

The milestones include the farthest human distance (248,655 miles), live Earth-Moon demos, and re-entry at 25,000 mph. The Artemis II will Splashdown off in California completing the test for Orion on long hauls.

Read: What is NASA’s Artemis Mission?

Artemis II lays out NASA's highway to Moon bases and Mars aspirations, exciting a new space generation.