NASA has officially entered the final countdown phase for Artemis II, marking the first crewed mission to travel around the Moon in more than 50 years. This mission is a major milestone in humanity’s return to deep space exploration.
NASA is preparing to launch Artemis II as early as April 1, 2026, from Kennedy Space Center, with a launch window extending through April 6 if needed.
The mission will carry four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft on a ~10-day journey around the Moon and back, testing critical deep-space systems before future lunar landings.
This will be:
- The first crewed lunar mission since 1972 (Apollo era)
- The first human flight of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS)
- A key step toward landing astronauts on the Moon again under Artemis III
The spacecraft will fly in a “free-return trajectory”, looping around the Moon and naturally returning to Earth, ensuring safety even if systems fail mid-mission.
Meet the Crew
1. Reid Wiseman (Commander)
- Former U.S. Navy pilot
- NASA astronaut since 2009
- Previously spent 165 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS)
- Leadership experience makes him mission commander
2. Victor Glover (Pilot)
- U.S. Navy aviator and test pilot
- Flew on SpaceX Crew-1 mission
- Logged ~168 days in space
- Will become the first Black astronaut to travel to the Moon
3. Christina Koch (Mission Specialist)
- Engineer and physicist
- Holds record for longest single spaceflight by a woman (328 days)
- Part of the first all-female spacewalk
- Will be the first woman to travel to the Moon
4. Jeremy Hansen (Mission Specialist)
- Canadian Space Agency astronaut
- Former fighter pilot
- First non-American to travel beyond low Earth orbit
- Making his first spaceflight
What the Mission is All About
Artemis II is not a landing mission, it’s a test flight with humans onboard.
Key Objectives:
- Test life-support systems in deep space
- Validate navigation and communication systems
- Assess crew safety and performance beyond Earth orbit
- Prepare for future Moon landings and Mars missions
Mission Profile:
- Launch into the Earth orbit checks
- Travel toward Moon (trans-lunar injection)
- Fly around the Moon (no landing)
- Return to Earth at high speed
- Splashdown in the Pacific Ocean
