Liftoff! Artemis II Astronauts Begin Historic Moon Mission

Crew starts journey that will take it farther from Earth than any human has ventured.

Jack Daleo

Thursday, April 02, 2026 at 09:32 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion crew capsule carrying four astronauts blast off from Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 6:35 p.m. EDT. [Credit: NASA | Joel Kowsky]

Key Takeaways:

Artemis II is the first crewed mission to the Moon in over half a century, sending four astronauts (three American, one Canadian) on a 10-day journey around the lunar body.
The mission aims to test NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion crew capsule with humans for the first time, serving as a critical precursor for future lunar landings and the eventual establishment of a permanent Moon base.
Astronauts will conduct vital tests, including manual control of the vehicle to simulate docking, monitor radiation exposure, and assess the life support system, while following a challenging, largely untested "free return" trajectory for the journey home.
The success of Artemis II is paramount for the entire Artemis campaign, influencing the schedule and viability of subsequent missions, including the planned Artemis IV lunar landing in 2028.

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For the first time in more than half a century, human astronauts are heading to the moon.

Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida erupted in flames Wednesday evening as the agency’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket fired its boosters and engines, generating 8.8 million pounds of thrust and sending four astronauts—three American, one Canadian—on a 10-day trip around the moon and back.