Artemis II Launches: Historic Crew Embarks on Lunar Mission

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Humanity embarked on its first lunar voyage in more than half a century Wednesday, as the Artemis II mission launched from Kennedy Space Center at 6:35 PM EDT, carrying four astronauts on a ten-day flight around the Moon. The launch marks a pivotal moment in NASA’s Artemis program, aiming for a permanent lunar presence and eventual missions to Mars.

The crew – consisting of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, alongside Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen – lifted off aboard the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. The mission is a critical test of the SLS and Orion spacecraft, NASA’s human deep space exploration systems. According to NASA, Artemis II will demonstrate the capabilities needed for future lunar surface missions.

“On this historic mission, you take with you the heart of this Artemis team, the daring spirit of the American people and our partners across the globe, and the hopes and dreams of a new generation,” launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson told the crew prior to liftoff.

The Artemis II mission builds upon the success of the uncrewed Artemis I flight in 2022. This crewed mission will be the first to send humans beyond low Earth orbit since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. The astronauts will travel approximately 4,700 miles from the lunar surface during their flight.

The launch drew crowds reminiscent of the Apollo era, with tens of thousands gathering at Kennedy Space Center and along surrounding roads, and beaches. The mission represents NASA’s opening move toward establishing a long-term lunar base, with a planned landing near the lunar south pole anticipated in 2028.

Recent updates from NASA indicate the crew and ground teams successfully addressed an issue with Orion’s toilet system. The crew has too completed proximity operations and perigee raise burns, preparing for the next phase of the mission.

The Artemis II crew will be the first humans to venture around the Moon in over 50 years, paving the way for future lunar surface missions. The mission is scheduled to conclude with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on or around April 11, 2026.