Humanity just flew around the Moon for the first time in 54 years — and the crew is heading home. Here's everything you need to know about this history-making mission.
252,756
Miles from Earth
4
Astronauts
10
Day Mission
54 YRS
First Since Apollo
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🔴 Breaking — April 8, 2026
The Artemis II crew has completed the Moon flyby and is heading back to Earth right now! After a breathtaking lunar pass on April 6th — setting a new all-time record for the farthest humans have ever traveled from Earth — the four astronauts aboard Orion "Integrity" are expected to splashdown off the coast of San Diego on Friday, April 10. This is the most exciting moment in space exploration in a generation. Read on for the full story. 🌕
01 — THE BIG PICTURE
What is Artemis II?
Let's go back to basics. You've probably heard about the Apollo missions — the legendary programme where NASA sent 12 humans to walk on the Moon between 1969 and 1972. After Apollo 17 in December 1972, no human being has ever left Earth orbit. That's more than 50 years of silence. No trips to the Moon. No humans venturing into deep space.
Artemis is NASA's plan to change all of that. Named after the twin sister of Apollo in Greek mythology, the Artemis programme is humanity's renewed push to return to the Moon — this time, to stay. The long-term goal? A permanent base on the lunar surface, and eventually, a crewed mission to Mars.
Artemis II is the second mission in this programme and the first one with actual astronauts on board. It launched on April 1, 2026 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, sending four astronauts on a 10-day loop around the Moon and back. No landing this time — this is a test flight, checking that all the spacecraft systems work perfectly with real humans aboard before the bigger missions ahead.
Why does this matter so much? Artemis II is the first time humans have ventured beyond low Earth orbit since the Apollo 17 crew returned in 1972. Every astronaut since then — on the Space Shuttle, on the International Space Station — has stayed relatively close to Earth. Artemis II just blasted through that barrier.
02 — THE HARDWARE
The Rocket & Spacecraft
Getting humans to the Moon requires absolutely enormous, incredibly powerful machines. Artemis II uses two main pieces of hardware that are genuinely mind-blowing in scale.
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SLS
Space Launch System
The most powerful rocket NASA has ever built. Taller than the Statue of Liberty, it produces 8.8 million pounds of thrust at liftoff — more than the Saturn V rockets of the Apollo era.
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Orion
Crew Spacecraft
The capsule where the four astronauts live during the mission. Named "Integrity" by the crew. Equipped with full life support, sleeping quarters, toilet, and a food warmer for their 10-day trip.
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63 ft
Solar Array Wingspan
When Orion's four solar array wings deploy in space, the spacecraft stretches 63 feet from tip to tip — about the size of a city bus — powering everything on board.
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ESM
European Service Module
Built by the European Space Agency (ESA), the ESM provides power, propulsion, water, and oxygen for the crew. It performed the critical "translunar injection burn" to send the crew toward the Moon.
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DSN
Deep Space Network
NASA's global network of giant radio dishes — in California, Spain, and Australia — that keep in constant communication with the crew across hundreds of thousands of miles of space.
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Apr 10
Splashdown Date
The crew module will separate, re-enter Earth's atmosphere at over 25,000 mph, and parachute down to splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego on April 10, 2026.
03 — THE HEROES
Meet the Crew
Four extraordinary humans are making history right now, hundreds of thousands of miles from home. And this crew is making multiple historic firsts at once — not just a return to the Moon, but a landmark for diversity and international cooperation in space.
Mission Commander
Reid Wiseman
NASA · USA
Former NASA Chief Astronaut. U.S. Navy test pilot. Previously spent 165 days on the ISS. Now becomes the oldest human to travel to the Moon's vicinity.
Pilot
Victor Glover
NASA · USA
U.S. Navy Captain. 3,000+ flight hours. First Black astronaut to live on the ISS. Now becomes the first person of colour to travel to the Moon.
Mission Specialist
Christina Koch
NASA · USA
Electrical engineer, record holder for longest single spaceflight by a woman (328 days on ISS). Now becomes the first woman to travel to the Moon.
Mission Specialist
Jeremy Hansen
CSA · CANADA
Canadian fighter pilot and astronaut. This is his very first spaceflight — and he's going straight to the Moon! Becomes the first non-American in lunar space.
🏆 Record-breaking firsts, all at once: Victor Glover is the first person of colour to the Moon. Christina Koch is the first woman. Jeremy Hansen is the first Canadian and the first non-American. And together, they're the first four humans ever in deep space at the same time — breaking the previous record of three, set during Apollo 8 in 1968.
04 — THE JOURNEY
How the Mission Works
Artemis II follows a path called a "free-return trajectory" — a clever orbital path where the Moon's own gravity swings the spacecraft back toward Earth naturally, like a slingshot. Here's how the whole mission unfolded, step by step:
APR 1 · LAUNCH DAY
🚀 Liftoff from Kennedy Space Center
The SLS rocket thundered off Launch Pad 39B at 6:35 p.m. EDT — the same historic pad used by Apollo 10. The core stage burned for 8 minutes, placing Orion in orbit. All four solar array wings deployed perfectly.
APR 1–2 · DAYS 1–2
🌍 Earth Orbit + System Tests
The crew spent roughly a day in a highly elliptical Earth orbit — nearly 5× higher than the International Space Station — testing every spacecraft system. They also practiced manually steering Orion, a skill critical for future lunar landing missions.
APR 2 · DAY 2
🔥 Translunar Injection Burn
The European Service Module fired its engine for 6 minutes, accelerating Orion to escape Earth's gravity. The crew officially departed Earth orbit — the first time humans had done so since Apollo 17 in December 1972. Mission controllers: "Today, for the first time since Apollo 17, humans have departed Earth orbit."
APR 3–5 · DAYS 3–5
🌙 Coast to the Moon
The crew coasted toward the Moon for several days, conducting further spacecraft tests, exercising, eating rehydrated space food, and taking stunning photographs of Earth growing smaller in the distance. Christina Koch was photographed peering out the window back at Earth.
APR 6 · DAY 6 ← HISTORIC MOMENT
🌕 Lunar Flyby — New Distance Record Set!
The highlight of the mission: a 7-hour flyby around the far side of the Moon. The crew passed within 4,067 miles of the lunar surface, then reached a maximum distance of 252,756 miles from Earth — breaking Apollo 13's 54-year record. They experienced a 40-minute communications blackout. When they emerged, Christina Koch radioed: "It is so great to hear from Earth again." They also witnessed a full solar eclipse from lunar orbit, saw "Earthrise" and "Earthset" with their own eyes, and photographed the far side of the Moon — regions no human has ever directly seen before.
APR 7–9 · DAYS 7–9
🏠 Return Journey
The crew has fired their thrusters for a "return correction burn" and is now coasting back toward Earth. The USS John P. Murtha recovery ship has left port and is heading to the splashdown site in the Pacific Ocean.
APR 10 · DAY 10
🌊 Splashdown near San Diego
Orion's crew module will separate from the European Service Module, re-enter Earth's atmosphere at 25,000+ mph, deploy parachutes, and splash down off the coast of San Diego at approximately 8:07 p.m. EDT. Recovery helicopters will bring the crew to the ship for medical checks.
05 — THE VIEW
What They Photographed
During the lunar flyby on April 6, the crew captured some of the most spectacular images in the history of human spaceflight. Here are the key moments that will be in science textbooks for decades to come.
NASA · Earthrise — The crew's recreation of the Apollo 8 iconic image
NASA · Earth seen as a crescent from 250,000+ miles away
NASA · Solar eclipse with the Moon blocking the Sun — nearly 54 minutes of totality
🔭 Far side science: The crew documented impact craters, ancient lava flows, and surface fractures. They reported six meteoroid impact flashes on the darkened lunar surface. They even suggested provisional names for two unnamed craters — proposing to name one "Integrity" after their spacecraft. All of this data will help scientists plan future Moon landings at the lunar south pole.
06 — THE SCIENCE
What's Being Studied?
Artemis II isn't just about going to the Moon for bragging rights — it's a working science mission. Dozens of experiments and tests are happening every day aboard Orion. Here are some of the coolest ones:
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AVATAR
Health Investigation
Organ-on-a-chip devices that study the effects of deep space radiation and microgravity on human body tissues — critical data for future Mars missions.
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Life Support
ECLSS Testing
For the first time, Orion's full environmental control and life support system is being tested with humans aboard — recycling air and water across deep space.
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Corona
Solar Science
During the rare lunar solar eclipse, the crew photographed the Sun's corona — its outermost atmosphere — from a vantage point never before achieved by humans.
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Meteoroid
Impact Flashes
Six meteoroid impact flashes were spotted on the dark lunar surface during the flyby — crucial data for understanding lunar hazards for future surface missions.
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Far Side
Lunar Geology
High-resolution photos of craters, lava flows, ridges, and surface fractures on the lunar far side — providing geology data impossible to get from Earth.
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Navigation
Deep Space Systems
Testing autonomous navigation, proximity operations, and manual spacecraft control — all skills the crew of Artemis III will need when they attempt to dock with a lunar lander.
"Today, for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972, humans have departed Earth orbit. Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy now are on a precise trajectory toward the Moon."
Dr. Lori Glaze — NASA, April 2, 2026
07 — WHAT'S NEXT
The Road Ahead
Artemis II is just step two of a massive, multi-decade programme. Each mission builds on the last, progressively pushing humans deeper into the Solar System. Here's what's coming after our four heroes splash down on April 10:
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Artemis III · mid-2027
The First Moon Landing Since 1972
The big one. Artemis III will attempt to land astronauts near the lunar south pole for the first time ever. The south pole is thought to contain large deposits of water ice — an incredible resource for a future lunar base. The landing will use SpaceX's Starship as the lunar lander. Two astronauts will descend to the surface while two remain in Orion. This mission will include the first woman and first person of colour to walk on the Moon.
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Artemis IV & Beyond · 2028+
Building a Permanent Moon Base
NASA's long-term goal is a permanent Moon Base on the lunar surface — a real, functioning outpost that astronauts can return to repeatedly, like a research station in Antarctica. This would become the launching point for crewed missions to Mars. International partners including ESA, JAXA (Japan), and the Canadian Space Agency are all contributing hardware and astronauts. The Gateway space station program was recently cancelled, with resources redirected toward faster surface missions.
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The Ultimate Goal · 2030s
Humans on Mars
Everything — Artemis II, III, IV, the Moon base — is working toward one ultimate goal: the first human footsteps on Mars. NASA estimates this could happen in the 2030s, potentially in partnership with SpaceX. The Moon serves as a proving ground: if we can build long-duration life support, grow food in space, and mine water ice on the Moon, we can do it on Mars. The students reading this today could be on that crew.
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International Partnership
A Global Effort
Artemis is bigger than NASA. The Artemis Accords — a set of peaceful space exploration principles — have been signed by over 40 countries. ESA's European Service Module powers Orion. Canada's Canadarm3 robotic arm will assist future surface missions. Japan (JAXA) is contributing a pressurised lunar rover. The UAE, India, Australia, and many others are involved. This is genuinely a mission for all of humanity.
08 — WHY YOU SHOULD CARE
Why This Changes Everything
You might be reading this thinking: "Cool, they went to the Moon again. What's the big deal?" Here's the big deal:
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Water Ice
Moon Resource
Scientists believe there are billions of tonnes of water ice at the lunar south pole. Water = drinking water + oxygen + rocket fuel. A Moon base could become self-sufficient using lunar resources alone.
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Medical Tech
Earth Benefits
Space research has historically led to everyday breakthroughs: memory foam, water filters, scratch-resistant lenses, and COVID-test advances all trace roots to NASA programmes.
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Telescope
Lunar Observatory
The far side of the Moon is permanently shielded from Earth's radio noise. A radio telescope there could observe the universe in frequencies impossible from Earth — looking back to the Big Bang itself.
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Your Generation
Future Crew
NASA is already recruiting the astronaut classes that will go to Mars. If you're a student today, you are exactly the right age to be on one of those crews. This is not science fiction anymore.
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Backup Plan
Species Survival
Becoming a multi-planet species is the greatest insurance policy in history. Learning to live off Earth is how humanity ensures its long-term survival against any catastrophe on Earth.
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Pure Science
Knowledge for All
Moon rocks from Apollo transformed our understanding of how planets form. Future missions to the lunar south pole could answer fundamental questions about the origin of water in our Solar System.
"Artemis II is the start of something bigger than any one mission. It marks our return to the Moon — not just to visit, but to eventually stay."
Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator · April 1, 2026