Here are all the amazing things we think you should know as NASA makes history
NASA’s Artemis II mission, the first human spaceflight to travel beyond low‑Earth orbit in more than 50 years, successfully launched on April 1, 2026, from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, embarking on a historic journey around the Moon.
The 10‑day flight marks humanity’s return to deep‑space exploration since the end of NASA’s Apollo program and will test critical spacecraft systems ahead of planned lunar landings in years to come.
Here are 12 amazing things we think you should know about the Artemis II mission:
1. First time in 50 years
The Artemis II mission marks the first time in more than 50 years that astronauts have been sent on a mission around the Moon. The last such journey took place during Apollo 17 in 1972.
2. A powerful launch from Florida
The mission lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center aboard NASA’s Space Launch System, the most powerful rocket the agency has ever built. It generated 8.8 million pounds of thrust, rising slowly at first before accelerating into the sky, leaving a bright plume visible for miles and a deep rumble felt by spectators.
3. Delays and last-minute technical concerns
Artemis II faced several delays in the months leading up to launch, including hydrogen and helium leaks discovered during testing. In the final hour before liftoff, engineers also had to resolve a battery issue in the launch abort system, briefly pausing the countdown before confirming the rocket was safe to fly.
4. The four-person crew on board
The astronauts on the mission are commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen.
The four astronauts include the first woman, the first Black astronaut and the first Canadian astronauts assigned to a lunar mission. A moment in history!
5. A 10-day mission timeline
The mission is expected to last around 10 days, during which the crew will travel further from Earth than any humans before. However, unlike the Apollo missions, Artemis II is not designed to land on the Moon but to test systems for future missions.
6. Initial testing in Earth orbit
After launch, the Orion spacecraft entered Earth orbit, where the crew is spending the first day carrying out system checks. These include testing navigation, communications, and life-support systems to ensure the spacecraft is ready for the journey into deep space.
7. The journey towards the Moon
Once initial checks are complete, Orion will fire its main engine and begin its journey of approximately 244,000 miles to the Moon. This phase, lasting several days, is critical for assessing the spacecraft’s performance outside Earth’s immediate environment.
8. They will not actually be landing on the moon
On day six, the spacecraft will perform a flyby of the Moon, travelling thousands of miles beyond it. The astronauts will capture images and gather data, helping NASA understand how systems operate in deep space conditions.
9. Returning using gravity
After the flyby, Orion will use the gravitational pull of both the Moon and Earth to guide its return. This planned trajectory allows the spacecraft to conserve fuel while safely heading back home.
10. Re-entry through extreme heat
As the capsule re-enters Earth’s atmosphere, it will experience temperatures of around 1,650°C. The service module will separate before re-entry, leaving the crew module to withstand the intense heat as it descends.
11. They will land the module in the Pacific Ocean
The mission will end with a parachute-assisted splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, where recovery teams will retrieve the astronauts. This method follows procedures used during earlier lunar missions.
12. Preparing for future Moon landings
Although Artemis II will not land on the Moon, it is a key step towards future missions that will. NASA plans to use data from this flight to prepare for crewed landings later in the decade, with the long-term goal of establishing a sustained human presence on the Moon and eventually sending astronauts to Mars.
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