Liftoff! NASA’s Artemis II mission is underway, carrying four astronauts on a groundbreaking flight to the Moon and back. This marks the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years, representing a significant leap forward in space exploration.

Historic Launch from Kennedy Space Center

The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket lifted off from Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at 6:35 p.m. EDT. Aboard the Orion spacecraft are NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

A Defining Moment for Exploration

“Today’s launch marks a defining moment for our nation and for all who believe in exploration,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “Artemis II builds on the vision set by President Donald J. Trump, returning humanity to the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years and opening the next chapter of lunar exploration beyond Apollo.”

Mission Objectives and Timeline

The approximately 10-day mission will serve as a critical test flight, demonstrating life support systems with a crew for the first time. This will lay the groundwork for a sustained human presence on the Moon and future missions to Mars.

Initial Flight Operations

Following launch, Orion successfully deployed its solar array wings to receive power from the Sun. The crew and ground engineers are currently focused on transitioning the spacecraft to flight operations and checking key systems. NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya stated, “Artemis II is a test flight, and the test has just begun.”

Trajectory to the Moon

About 49 minutes into the flight, the SLS rocket’s upper stage fired, placing Orion into an elliptical orbit around Earth. A subsequent burn will propel Orion into a high Earth orbit, approximately 46,000 miles beyond Earth. The spacecraft, named “Integrity” by the crew, will then separate from the upper stage.

CubeSat Deployment and System Checks

Four CubeSats – small satellites from Argentina, Germany, Korea, and Saudi Arabia – will be deployed from the rocket’s upper stage to conduct scientific investigations and technology demonstrations. The crew will also conduct a manual pilot demonstration to assess Orion’s handling capabilities while in high Earth orbit.

Lunar Flyby and Return to Earth

On Thursday, April 2, a six-minute translunar injection burn will send Orion on a trajectory towards the Moon. A planned lunar flyby on Monday, April 6, will allow the astronauts to observe and photograph the Moon’s surface, including areas of the far side. The crew will then begin their journey back to Earth, with a planned splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

Looking Ahead: A New Era of Exploration

NASA plans to continue sending Artemis astronauts on increasingly complex missions to the Moon, furthering scientific discovery and preparing for the first crewed missions to Mars. This mission represents a “Golden Age of innovation and exploration,” according to NASA.