Crew Heads to Historic Lunar Flyby in First Crewed Moon Mission Since 1972

NASA’s Artemis II mission, the first crewed flight to the vicinity of the Moon in more than half a century, is well underway after a flawless launch on April 1, 2026, sending four astronauts on a 10-day journey aboard the Orion spacecraft to test systems and pave the way for future lunar landings.

The massive Space Launch System rocket lifted off from Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at 6:35 p.m. EDT, carrying Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The crew named their spacecraft “Integrity” as they began humanity’s return to deep space exploration.

Artemis II serves as a critical dress rehearsal for Artemis III, which aims to land astronauts on the lunar surface as early as 2027 or 2028. The mission focuses on verifying Orion’s life support systems, heat shield performance and overall crewed operations in the harsh environment beyond low Earth orbit.

Here is the full schedule and key milestones for the Artemis II mission based on the latest NASA updates as the crew continues its outbound journey:

Pre-Launch Preparations (March 29 – April 1, 2026): The countdown officially began on March 30 with the onsite clock ticking down to a targeted 6:24 p.m. EDT liftoff on April 1. Astronauts underwent final medical checks and media briefings while in quarantine. On launch day, propellant loading of the SLS core stage and upper stage began early in the morning, with full NASA coverage starting midday. The crew arrived at the pad in the iconic Astrovan around 2:13 p.m. and boarded Orion for the historic flight.

Flight Day 1: Launch and High Earth Orbit Insertion (April 1) Liftoff occurred precisely at 6:35 p.m. EDT after a smooth terminal countdown. The SLS rocket’s solid rocket boosters separated about two minutes after launch, followed by core stage cutoff and separation. The interim cryogenic propulsion stage then performed burns to place Orion into an initial elliptical orbit and subsequently a high Earth orbit reaching approximately 46,000 miles altitude. The crew conducted initial spacecraft checkouts and settled in for their first night in space.

Flight Day 2: Perigee Raise and Translunar Injection Burn (April 2) Early on April 2, the crew completed a perigee raise burn to optimize the orbit. Later that evening, at approximately 7:49 p.m. EDT, Orion executed the critical translunar injection (TLI) burn using its service module engine. The roughly six-minute firing accelerated the spacecraft out of Earth’s gravitational grip and set it on a trajectory toward the Moon. This maneuver committed the mission to the lunar flyby and marked the moment humans left Earth orbit for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972. Post-burn, the crew reported the Moon appearing noticeably larger as they sped away from Earth.

Flight Days 3–5: Outbound Coast to the Moon (April 3–5) The astronauts are now in the coasting phase, traveling farther from Earth each hour. They perform daily system checks, exercise using onboard equipment, conduct scientific observations and maintain communication with mission control in Houston. The crew will monitor spacecraft performance, including radiation levels and navigation systems. By the end of this period, Orion will enter the Moon’s gravitational sphere of influence, setting up for the dramatic flyby. During this time, the mission is on track to break the Apollo 13 distance record of about 248,655 miles from Earth.

Flight Day 6: Lunar Flyby and Closest Approach (April 6) The highlight of the mission occurs Monday, April 6, when Orion performs a multi-hour lunar flyby. The spacecraft will pass within approximately 4,000 to 6,000 miles of the lunar surface, allowing the crew to photograph the Moon — including regions of the far side never seen directly by human eyes — and provide live observations. No lunar orbit insertion is planned; instead, the Moon’s gravity will slingshot Orion back toward Earth on a free-return trajectory. This close pass tests Orion’s navigation and communication capabilities in deep space while giving the crew an unforgettable view of Earth’s nearest neighbor.

Flight Days 7–9: Return Journey (April 7–9) After the flyby, the crew begins the inbound leg, covering hundreds of thousands of miles back to Earth. Activities include continued system monitoring, additional photography of Earth and the Moon from increasing distances, and preparation for re-entry. The astronauts will share more images and insights via scheduled downlinks, helping NASA gather data for future missions.

Flight Day 10: Re-Entry and Splashdown (April 10) Orion is scheduled to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere at high speed on April 10, testing its advanced heat shield under crewed conditions. After slowing from nearly 25,000 mph, the spacecraft will deploy parachutes for a gentle splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California, around mid-afternoon local time. Recovery teams aboard ships will retrieve the crew and capsule, marking the successful conclusion of the test flight.

The entire mission is designed to last approximately 10 days from launch to splashdown, with the crew traveling more than 1 million miles round trip. At its farthest point during the lunar flyby, Orion and its astronauts are expected to reach roughly 252,000 miles from Earth, surpassing previous human distance records.

NASA officials have described the mission as proceeding smoothly, with all major systems performing as expected. Daily news conferences and live updates from mission control continue to provide real-time insights. The crew has remained in high spirits, sharing views of Earth shrinking behind them and the growing lunar disk ahead.

Artemis II builds directly on the uncrewed Artemis I test flight completed in 2022. Success here will clear the path for Artemis III, which will include a lunar landing using SpaceX’s Starship lander in partnership with international agencies. The program ultimately aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon, including the Artemis Base Camp near the lunar south pole.

International collaboration is a cornerstone of Artemis II. Hansen’s participation as the first Canadian on a lunar mission underscores contributions from the Canadian Space Agency, which provided the Canadarm3 robotic system for future Gateway lunar outpost operations. Glover becomes the first Black astronaut to travel beyond low Earth orbit, while Koch is the first woman on such a flight.

Challenges remain for the broader Artemis program, including development of spacesuits, landers and the lunar Gateway station. Budget constraints and technical hurdles have shifted timelines, but NASA maintains confidence in the stepped approach demonstrated by Artemis II.

Public interest has surged with the launch, as millions watched live streams and followed social media updates from the crew. The mission revives the spirit of Apollo while incorporating modern technology, diversity and international partnership for a new era of exploration.

As the astronauts continue their voyage, the focus shifts to the lunar flyby and safe return. Every milestone brings humanity closer to stepping foot on the Moon again — this time to stay.

Engineers on the ground continue monitoring Orion’s performance, with contingency plans in place for any anomalies. The crew’s safety and mission success remain the top priorities.

With Artemis II well into its historic journey, NASA is already looking ahead to the next giant leap. The data collected will refine procedures for crewed lunar operations, ensuring that when astronauts return to the surface, they do so with proven systems and deeper knowledge of deep space travel.