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On Wednesday, April 1, 2026, four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the first crewed mission to travel to the Moon in over 50 years. Artemis II, a 10-day test flight, is designed to orbit the moon and return safely to Earth, paving the way for future deep-space exploration.
Veteran NASA astronaut Commander Wiseman served as an engineer on the International Space Station (ISS) during Expedition 41 and later commanded Expedition 42, and held leadership roles within NASA’s astronaut office. Glover brings both naval aviation and spaceflight experience as a U.S Navy captain and test pilot who became the first Black astronaut to work on the ISS. Koch, selected as an astronaut in 2013, previously worked on the ISS during Expeditions 59, 60, and 61 in 2019. She also participated in the first all-female space walk, further cementing her role as a legend in space exploration. Unlike the others, Hansen is making his first journey to space after serving as a capsule communicator (CAPCOM) at NASA.
Artemis II is not a landing mission, but rather a test of systems needed for future lunar missions. According to NASA, “The flight will demonstrate life support systems for the first time with crew and lay the foundation for an enduring presence on the Moon ahead of future missions to Mars.” NASA administrator Jared Isaacman also says the mission is “the start of something bigger . . . it marks our return to the Moon, not just to visit, but to eventually stay on our Moon Base.”
After launch, the spacecraft performed a translunar injection burn, which placed Orion on a trajectory towards the moon. The mission follows a “free run trajectory,” meaning the capsule will use the Moon’s gravity to loop around it and return to Earth without ever firing its engine. With the lunar flyby, the crew will view the moon’s far side and allow them to surpass the record set by the Apollo missions for the farthest humans have ever traveled in space since the 1970’s. “Humanity has once again shown what we are capable of, and it’s your hopes for the future that carry us now on this journey around the moon,” Hansen said.
NASA is offering daily broadcasts from inside the Orion capsule, allowing the public to tune in and listen as the crew speaks to journalists on various news sites. On Thursday, April 2, 2026, the Artemis II crew spoke with major news outlets like ABC and Fox to discuss their experiences onboard. The crew describes the “spectacular” views of Earth so far and shares their excitement about what is to come. Glover also shared an inspirational message to the American people, saying, “We are all one entity. This mission has also shown us what we can do when we bring our differences together and use all of our strengths to accomplish something great.”
Following a successful trip, Orion is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean, where recovery teams will retrieve the crew.
