Mission Archive
Historical documentation of the Artemis II lunar flyby mission
Mission Overview
Artemis II was the first crewed mission to lunar orbit since Apollo 17 in December 1972. The mission marked humanity's return to deep space and the first time astronauts traveled beyond low Earth orbit in over five decades.
Launch occurred on April 2, 2026, with lunar flyby operations taking place on April 6, 2026. The mission demonstrated critical systems for future lunar surface operations planned under the Artemis program.
Mission Details
Launch
April 2, 2026 — Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Spacecraft
Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle
Launch Vehicle
Space Launch System (SLS) Block 1
Mission Duration
Approximately 10 days
Crew Size
4 astronauts
Crew
Commander
Reid Wiseman
Pilot
Victor Glover
Mission Specialist 1
Christina Koch
Mission Specialist 2
Jeremy Hansen (Canadian Space Agency)
Mission Objectives
- •Demonstrate Orion spacecraft systems in deep space environment
- •Test life support systems during extended mission duration
- •Validate navigation and communication systems beyond low Earth orbit
- •Conduct lunar flyby operations and observations
- •Verify crew procedures for future Artemis missions
- •Gather data for Artemis III lunar landing mission planning
Historical Context
Artemis II represented the first crewed test flight of NASA's Space Launch System and the first operational use of the Orion spacecraft with astronauts aboard. The mission followed Artemis I, an uncrewed test flight completed in 2022.
The lunar flyby marked the first time humans observed the Moon from deep space since the Apollo program ended in 1972. The crew's observations, including descriptions of earth-reflected light illuminating the lunar surface, provided real-time documentation of phenomena previously seen only during Apollo missions.
Artemis II served as a critical stepping stone toward Artemis III, planned as the first crewed lunar landing since Apollo 17 and the first to include a woman and person of color on the lunar surface.
Key Events
Trans-Lunar Injection
Orion departed low Earth orbit and entered trajectory toward the Moon
Lunar Flyby — April 6, 2026
Orion completed powered flyby of the Moon, passing over the lunar farside. Crew observed Earth-illuminated lunar surface and documented observations during live broadcast.
View Complete Timeline →Return and Splashdown
Orion returned to Earth and completed ocean splashdown with crew recovery operations