Artemis II: Humans Return to Lunar Orbit

NASA launched Artemis II on Wednesday, April 2, 2026, beginning a crewed flight designed to pass the Moon and return to Earth over a 10-day mission. The agency said the objective is to verify that the Orion crew capsule can safely support astronauts, a capability NASA has linked to later lunar operations. Liftoff took place from Cape Canaveral, Florida, using the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion spacecraft.

The 322-foot SLS lifted off at 6:35 PM ET (22:35 GMT), and officials said Orion was inserted onto a “free-return” trajectory. Under this profile, the spacecraft will swing around the Moon and follow a path that naturally guides it back toward Earth. NASA stressed that Artemis II is not a lunar landing attempt and is instead focused on crewed performance in the lunar environment, including sustaining the crew during the journey and managing the return.

NASA said the crew is expected to reach the Moon’s vicinity by April 6, with splashdown in the Pacific Ocean anticipated on April 10, 2026. The four astronauts are Reid Wiseman, serving as commander; Victor Glover, serving as pilot; and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen. Hansen is an astronaut with the Canadian Space Agency, and the agencies involved described Canada’s role as part of the Artemis program’s international dimension.

Officials said the launch came after work to resolve multiple technical issues, including hydrogen leaks and problems involving battery sensors and the flight termination system. With those items addressed, NASA said the mission proceeded as planned and Orion reached its intended trajectory. The agency described Artemis II as a step to validate systems and procedures before more complex crewed lunar activity.

NASA also characterized Artemis II as a historic milestone, saying it is the first crewed mission to the Moon’s vicinity since the Apollo program ended in 1972. The agency positioned the flight as a bridge between earlier uncrewed testing and later missions expected to involve more demanding operations. In the mission outline cited by NASA, the next major milestone is Artemis IV, planned for 2028, which is intended to land astronauts on the lunar surface.

For governments and global markets, the mission draws attention to continued public-sector investment in advanced aerospace systems and the role of international partners in high-profile exploration programs. Officials indicated that the key remaining uncertainty is completion of the full 10-day profile, from the lunar swing-by through the Pacific splashdown, until the mission concludes.