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 NASA's first crewed mission to the moon in over 50 years, sending four astronauts on a 10-day test flight around the lunar surface aboard the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion capsule.
The mission aims to validate the spacecraft's systems and mission profile, traveling farther from Earth than any human previously, without landing on the moon, to prepare for future lunar landings and the establishment of a permanent lunar base by 2028.
During the mission, astronauts will conduct scientific experiments on radiation exposure and life support, perform proximity operations, and deploy international CubeSats, while also testing critical phases like translunar injection and atmospheric reentry.
The success of Artemis II is crucial for the entire Artemis campaign, directly impacting the timeline and planning for subsequent missions intended to achieve a sustained human presence on the moon.

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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.