NASA will launch four astronauts on the Artemis II mission from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 1, 2026 [1].
The mission represents a critical step in returning humans to the lunar surface. By testing the Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System in a crewed environment, NASA aims to ensure safety and functionality before attempting future lunar landings.
This 10-day mission [1] will see the crew fly around the Moon before returning to Earth for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean [1, 2]. This marks the first time humans have traveled to the Moon since 1972 [1], ending a gap of more than 50 years [1].
The Orion spacecraft is designed to support the crew during their transit and lunar orbit. The Space Launch System provides the necessary thrust to propel the crew out of Earth's orbit and toward their destination, a trajectory that will take them around the far side of the Moon.
NASA officials said the mission is designed to validate all systems required for the Artemis program. The crew will monitor life-support systems and navigation during the flight to ensure the hardware can withstand the rigors of deep space travel.
Following the lunar fly-by, the crew is expected to splash down around April 10, 2026 [1, 2]. The recovery will be managed by teams in the Pacific Ocean, mirroring the return procedures used during the Apollo era.
“The first crewed mission to the Moon since 1972.”
The Artemis II mission serves as the final operational dress rehearsal for a crewed lunar landing. While previous Artemis missions utilized uncrewed capsules to test trajectories, this flight validates the human-rating of the hardware. Success here is the prerequisite for Artemis III, which intends to land the first woman and first person of color on the lunar surface.
