KATHMANDU: On April 1, 2026, NASA’s Artemis II mission launched successfully from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking a historic milestone: the first crewed flight beyond low Earth orbit in more than 50 years.

Four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft atop the massive Space Launch System (SLS) rocket are now on a ~10-day journey that will take them around the Moon and back — the first humans to leave Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in December 1972.

As of April 5, 2026 (Flight Day 4), the crew is en route to the Moon after a successful Translunar Injection burn, with the dramatic lunar flyby scheduled for April 6.

This test flight is a critical stepping stone in NASA’s Artemis program, designed to return humans to the lunar surface for long-term exploration and eventually send them to Mars.

What is Artemis II? 

Artemis II is NASA’s first crewed mission of the Artemis program — a crewed lunar flyby test flight using the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft.

The four-person crew will travel approximately 685,000 miles (1.1 million km) over 10 days, swinging around the far side of the Moon at a closest approach of about 4,000 miles (6,400 km) before returning to Earth for a Pacific Ocean splashdown around April 10–11, 2026.

Unlike a landing mission, Artemis II focuses on rigorous testing of deep-space systems with humans aboard: life support, navigation, radiation shielding, emergency procedures, and high-speed re-entry (potentially the fastest ever for a crewed vehicle). It paves the way for future surface landings by proving Orion can safely carry astronauts to and from lunar distances.

What is the broader Artemis program and why does it matter?

The Artemis program, named after the Greek goddess of the Moon (twin sister of Apollo), is NASA’s plan for a sustainable human return to the Moon — and the next giant leap toward Mars. Formally established in 2017 via Space Policy Directive 1, it emphasizes international and commercial partnerships, diversity, and long-term presence rather than “flags and footprints.”

Goals include landing the first woman and first person of color on the Moon, building a lunar Gateway station, and using the Moon as a proving ground for Mars missions.

Artemis II is the second flight in the sequence: following the uncrewed Artemis I (2022), it is the first with a crew. Subsequent missions (Artemis III and beyond) will test lunar landers and aim for surface landings targeted in the late 2020s.

What is the history leading to Artemis II?

The roots trace back to the canceled Constellation program and the 2010 NASA Authorization Act, which directed development of the SLS rocket and Orion capsule for deep-space exploration. In 2017, President Trump signed Space Policy Directive 1, directing NASA to return humans to the Moon.

The program was officially named “Artemis” in 2019 by then-Administrator Jim Bridenstine. Artemis I launched on November 16, 2022, successfully testing SLS/Orion in an uncrewed lunar orbit before splashing down after 25 days. Delays due to technical challenges (fuel leaks, battery issues, and hurricane impacts) pushed Artemis II from its original 2024–2025 target to April 1, 2026.

The mission builds directly on Apollo-era lessons while incorporating modern technology, international collaboration (including Canada’s contribution to Orion’s guidance system), and commercial partnerships.

Who is the Artemis II crew, and what makes them historic?

Commander Reid Wiseman(NASA): A U.S. Navy test pilot and veteran of a 2014 International Space Station mission; he will be the first person to command a lunar mission since Apollo.

Pilot Victor Glover(NASA): The first Black astronaut to fly to the Moon; previously flew on SpaceX’s Crew-1 to the ISS.

Mission Specialist Christina Koch (NASA): Record-holder for the longest single spaceflight by a woman (328 days on the ISS); an engineer who will become the first woman to travel beyond low Earth orbit.

Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen(Canadian Space Agency): A former Royal Canadian Air Force fighter pilot and the first non-U.S. citizen (and first Canadian) to fly to the Moon.

The crew represents NASA’s commitment to diversity and international partnership — the first mixed-gender, multi-national crew on a lunar mission.

What are the key mission objectives and what will the crew do?

The primary goal is to test Orion in deep space with a crew. Objectives include: verifying life-support systems, practicing emergency procedures, conducting manual piloting demonstrations, testing communications with the Deep Space Network, and gathering data on radiation and spacecraft performance.

During the lunar flyby on April 6, the astronauts will take high-resolution photos and provide live observations of the lunar far side — areas never seen directly by human eyes.

They will also break the Apollo 13 distance record from Earth. No docking or landing occurs; the trajectory is a “free-return” path using the Moon’s gravity for the U-turn.

What is happening right now (real-time status as of April 5, 2026)

As of April 5, 2026, the crew is on Flight Day 4, approximately halfway to the Moon and traveling at high speed after the critical Translunar Injection (TLI) burn completed on Flight Day 2.

Orion has left Earth orbit permanently for the first time since Apollo, and the crew is in excellent spirits, performing scheduled activities such as manual piloting tests and system checks.

A minor urine-vent issue was resolved by heating the system. Daily NASA status briefings confirm all systems are performing well.

Tomorrow (April 6), the crew will conduct the lunar flyby, passing behind the Moon and losing communications briefly with Earth while capturing unprecedented views of the far side.

The mission remains on track for splashdown in the Pacific off San Diego around April 10–11. Real-time tracking is available via NASA’s Artemis Real-time Orbit Website (AROW).

What are the major challenges and risks? 

Deep-space human flight introduces risks including radiation exposure, communication blackouts behind the Moon, high-speed re-entry heat (up to 5,000°F), and reliance on Orion’s European Service Module for propulsion and power.

The mission tests these in a real environment before riskier landing attempts. Minor anomalies (like the urine vent) have already been managed successfully in flight.

How does Artemis II fit into the future of lunar and Mars exploration?

Success here will clear the path for Artemis III (targeted ~2027, low-Earth orbit rendezvous/docking tests with commercial landers) and Artemis IV (early 2028, first crewed lunar landing in the program).

The program envisions a lunar “base camp,” Gateway station, and eventual crewed Mars missions in the 2030s–2040s.

Artemis II proves that NASA’s new systems work with humans aboard, restoring America’s human deep-space capability after a half-century gap.