Artemis II facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Artemis II

Artemis II lifts off from Launch Complex 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 1, 2026
Names	Artemis II Exploration Mission-2 (EM-2)
Mission type	Crewed lunar flyby
Operator	NASA
Mission duration	5 days, 15 hours and 45 minutes (in progress) 10 days (planned)
Distance travelled	695,081 mi (planned)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	Orion CM-003 Integrity ESM-2
Manufacturer	Orion: Lockheed Martin ESM: Airbus
Launch mass	78,000 lb (35,000 kg)
Landing mass	20,500 lb (9,300 kg)
Dimensions	Height:     Orion and ESM: 26 ft (7.9 m)     Full launch stack: 322 ft (98 m) Width:     Solar panels deployed: 19 m (62 ft) Diameter:     SLS core: 8.4 m (28 ft)
Power	11 kW
Crew
Crew size	4
Members	Reid Wiseman Victor Glover Christina Koch Jeremy Hansen
Start of mission
Launch date	April 1, 2026, 22:35:12 UTC (6:35:12 p.m. EDT)
Rocket	Space Launch System
Launch site	Kennedy, LC-39B
End of mission
Landing date	NET April 11, 2026, 00:21 UTC (April 10, 5:21 p.m. PDT)
Landing site	Pacific Ocean (planned)
Flyby of Moon
Distance	4,067 mi (6,545 km; 3,534 nmi)
Mission insignia Official crew portrait, clockwise from left: Koch, Glover, Hansen and Wiseman Artemis program ← Artemis I Artemis III →

Artemis II is an exciting space mission that sent four astronauts on a trip around the Moon. It launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 1, 2026. This ten-day journey has a crew of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

This mission is the second flight of the powerful Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. It is also the first time the Orion spacecraft has carried a crew. Most importantly, it is the first time humans have traveled beyond low Earth orbit since the Apollo program in 1972. The Orion spacecraft, named Integrity, is expected to return to Earth on April 10.

Artemis II is a test flight. It helps prepare for future Artemis missions that aim to land humans on the Moon again. The mission's goals are similar to those of Apollo 8 in 1968, which was the first crewed flight to the Moon. However, Artemis II flew much further from the Moon than Apollo 8.

During this mission, the crew achieved several amazing "firsts." Victor Glover became the first person of color to travel near the Moon. Christina Koch became the first woman to do so. Jeremy Hansen is the first non-U.S. citizen to journey beyond Earth's orbit. Reid Wiseman became the oldest person to travel this far. The mission also set new human spaceflight records for distance from Earth and speed during reentry.

The Journey of Artemis II

Planning the Mission

In 2017, the Artemis II mission, then called Exploration Mission-2, was planned to visit an asteroid. This asteroid would have been moved into orbit around the Moon. Astronauts would then have done spacewalks to collect samples.

However, the asteroid mission was canceled in April 2017. NASA then decided on a new plan: an eight-day trip around the Moon with four astronauts. This new plan used a special path called a free-return trajectory. This path allows the spacecraft to loop around the Moon and naturally return to Earth.

Building the Rocket and Spacecraft

Building the huge SLS core stage for Artemis II was a big job. In December 2024, the core stage was lifted into the Vehicle Assembly Building. This is a giant building at the Kennedy Space Center.

The SLS core stage for Artemis II was lifted into High Bay 2 of the Vehicle Assembly Building after stacking began in December 2024.

The powerful RS-25 engines were installed on the core stage by September 2023. One engine had a small leak and was replaced in April 2025. The completed core stage arrived at the Kennedy Space Center in July 2024.

Heat Shield Challenges

After the uncrewed Artemis I mission in 2022, engineers noticed something unexpected. The ablative heat shield on the Orion spacecraft had more wear than predicted. This heat shield protects the capsule from extreme heat when it reenters Earth's atmosphere.

The Artemis I heat shield showed some damage after its return to Earth.

NASA engineers studied the problem carefully. They found that gases trapped in the heat shield material caused small cracks and some material loss. Instead of replacing the heat shield for Artemis II, NASA changed the plan for reentry. They decided to make the spacecraft enter the atmosphere at a steeper angle. This change would reduce the time the heat shield spent in the hottest part of the atmosphere. NASA confirmed that this new plan would keep the crew safe.

Mission Delays

The launch date for Artemis II changed several times. Initially, it was planned for 2019-2021, then 2023, and later September 2025. These delays happened because engineers needed more time to investigate issues. They looked into problems with Orion's life-support system and the heat shield damage seen after Artemis I.

The Orion spacecraft Integrity and its European Service Module were prepared for the Artemis II mission in March 2025.

In December 2024, NASA announced a new target launch date of April 2026. This allowed more time to ensure everything was perfect for the crew's safety.

The Launch Day

On March 20, 2026, the giant SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft were rolled out to Launch Pad 39B. This was the second time it was moved to the pad. The crew entered quarantine to stay healthy before their flight.

The Artemis II stack was rolled out of the VAB before its February launch attempt in January 2026.

The mission launched successfully on April 1, 2026, at 6:35 p.m. EDT. The four main engines of the SLS core stage ignited first. Then, the powerful solid rocket boosters fired, pushing the rocket skyward. This was the first crewed launch from Pad 39B since 2006.

The Crew of Artemis II

The backup (standing left) and prime crew of Artemis II after a news conference in December 2024.

The crew of Artemis II outside the Operations and Checkout Building on April 1, 2026.

The crew of Artemis II trained inside an Orion mock-up in January 2025.

Prime crew

Position	Astronaut
Commander	Reid Wiseman, NASA Second spaceflight
Pilot	Victor Glover, NASA Second spaceflight
Mission Specialist 1	Christina Koch, NASA Second spaceflight
Mission Specialist 2	Jeremy Hansen, CSA First spaceflight

Backup crew

Position	Astronaut
Mission Specialist	Andre Douglas, NASA
Mission Specialist	Jenni Gibbons, CSA

Artemis II has a crew of four amazing astronauts. They are Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialist Christina Koch, all from NASA. The fourth crew member is Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency.

As mentioned, this crew achieved many "firsts" on this mission. Victor Glover is the first person of color to travel around the Moon. Christina Koch is the first woman to do so. Reid Wiseman is the oldest person to make this journey. Jeremy Hansen is the first non-American to travel beyond Earth's orbit. Canada's involvement is thanks to a 2020 agreement between the United States and Canada. This mission also broke the record for the most people in deep space at one time, which was previously three during Apollo 8 in 1968.

The Mission's Journey

A diagram showing the planned path of the Artemis II mission.

Artemis II is a test flight to see how well the Space Launch System rocket and the Orion spacecraft work in deep space. The crew also tested Orion's European Service Module (ESM).

Launch and Ascent

Key events from the launch and ascent into space.

Artemis II during a pitch-over maneuver shortly after liftoff.

The mission launched on April 1 from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39B. The powerful RS-25 main engines ignited first, followed by the solid rocket boosters. These boosters provided most of the thrust for the first two minutes. They separated from the rocket at about 3,100 miles per hour and 30 miles high.

Commander Wiseman watched the launch from the left seat of Orion. The flight was mostly automatic, but he was ready to take control if needed. The core stage burned for about eight minutes before separating. This left Orion in a high, elliptical orbit around Earth.

Testing in Earth Orbit

The launch abort system after it was jettisoned, as seen by a camera on Orion.

Right after the main engines shut down, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen unstrapped. They set up and tested important life support systems. These included the water dispenser, firefighting masks, and even the toilet! All systems worked well, giving mission control confidence to continue.

The spacecraft then performed a burn to raise its orbit. This put Orion into a stable low Earth orbit. Later, another burn raised its orbit even higher, creating a 23.5-hour orbit around Earth. This was the first time a crewed spacecraft had stayed in such a high Earth orbit before heading to the Moon.

After this, Orion and its European Service Module separated from the upper stage. Pilot Glover then took manual control of Orion. He practiced flying the spacecraft near the spent upper stage. This helped engineers understand how Orion handles in space and prepared for future docking operations.

Journey to the Moon

The Hello, World photo taken by Wiseman from Orion after leaving Earth's orbit. It shows the full Earth with its night side lit by the Moon.

On the second day of the flight, the crew performed a long burn using the ESM's main engine. This maneuver, called a trans-lunar injection (TLI) burn, sent the spacecraft on its way to the Moon. It put Orion on a free-return trajectory. This means it would loop around the Moon and naturally return to Earth without needing more engine power for the trip back.

On flight day 3, the crew had a small challenge, which they managed to fix. On flight day 4, Koch and Hansen took turns manually controlling Orion in deep space. This gave engineers more data on how the spacecraft handles.

On flight day 5, Orion made a small course correction burn to fine-tune its path to the Moon. The crew also tested their special Orion Crew Survival System suits. These suits protect astronauts during launch, landing, and if the cabin loses pressure.

Around the Moon and Back

The Moon viewed from Artemis II as it approached. The impact basin Hertzsprung is visible.

On flight day 6, April 6, Orion entered the Moon's gravitational pull. It flew around the far side of the Moon, making its closest approach about 4,067 miles from the lunar surface. At this point, Orion was about 252,756 miles from Earth, breaking the record set by Apollo 13 for the farthest crewed mission from Earth.

As the crew passed behind the Moon, they lost contact with Earth for 40 minutes. During their flyby, the crew discovered two new craters. They suggested naming them Integrity, after their spacecraft, and Carroll, after Wiseman's late wife. After the blackout, Orion experienced a solar eclipse as it passed through the Moon's shadow.

After flying around the Moon, Orion is now on its way back to Earth. NASA expects to perform a few more small engine burns to make sure it reenters Earth's atmosphere precisely.

Reentry and Splashdown

Orion is expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere at about 25,000 miles per hour. This will be the fastest crewed reentry ever attempted. Because of the heat shield observations from Artemis I, mission managers decided to use a steeper entry path. This will reduce the time the spacecraft spends in the hottest part of the atmosphere.

Splashdown is planned for the Pacific Ocean near San Diego, California. The U.S. Navy will recover the crew. The entire mission is expected to last about 10 days. After the crew is safely out of Orion, they will go to a medical center for check-ups. They are also scheduled to do special tests to see how quickly they can adjust to gravity after being in space.

Wake-Up Calls from Home

The crew received special wake-up calls from Mission Control every day of their flight. These calls often included music to keep their spirits high. On some days, inspirational speeches were played, including messages from famous Apollo astronauts like Charlie Duke and Jim Lovell.

Science Experiments in Space

The inside of Orion with the crew working during flight.

The mission includes an experiment called AVATAR. This system can copy how individual astronaut organs work. It's the first time AVATAR has been tested outside the International Space Station. This helps scientists understand how space affects the human body for future deep space missions.

Another experiment is ARCHeR (Artemis Research for Crew Health & Readiness). Crew members wear special monitors to track their movement and sleep. This helps scientists study how sleep patterns and overall health change during spaceflight. Scientists also collect saliva samples to study the astronauts' immune systems. They want to see how radiation, isolation, and being far from Earth affect them. This research helps us learn how humans can survive and thrive in space.

Laser Communication

Optical Communications System modules on the Orion spacecraft.

Artemis II is testing a new way to communicate with Earth using lasers. This is called the Orion Artemis II Optical Communications System (O2O). Laser communication systems can be smaller and lighter than traditional radio systems. They also use less power and can send data much faster. The O2O system on Orion sends data to ground stations in California and New Mexico. It can send data at a rate of up to 260 megabits per second!

Small Satellites (CubeSats)

CubeSats being integrated into the rocket.

NASA originally planned to send several small satellites, called CubeSats, on Artemis II. These tiny satellites are often used for scientific research. While they were removed from the plan for a while, NASA later announced that four CubeSats from international partners would fly on the mission. These CubeSats help advance science and technology and allow more countries to participate in deep space research.

For example, Germany's TACHELES CubeSat will study how space conditions affect electrical parts used in lunar vehicles. Argentina's ATENEA satellite will study radiation and test a long-distance communication system. South Korea's K-RadCube will measure space radiation using a material like human tissue. Finally, the Space Weather CubeSat-1 from Saudi Arabia will measure space weather in high Earth orbit.

Connecting with the Public

A souvenir boarding pass with a name that flew around the Moon on the Artemis II mission.

To get people excited about the mission, NASA offered a special digital souvenir. People could enter their names online, and these names were stored on an SD card inside the Orion spacecraft. This card is now flying around the Moon! Visitors could also download a "boarding pass" with their name on it.

The crew of Artemis II posing with Rise, the zero gravity indicator, at the Kennedy Space Center.

NASA also held a contest to design a mascot for the mission, called a zero-gravity indicator (ZGI). Over 2,600 designs were submitted from more than 50 countries! The winner was "Rise," designed by 8-year-old Lucas Ye. Rise shows the Moon wearing Earth as a baseball cap, inspired by the famous Apollo 8 Earthrise photograph. NASA made a real Rise mascot that is now tethered inside the crew cabin.

The astronauts' menu for Artemis II was also shared with the public. During launch and landing, the crew eats ready-to-eat food. In orbit, they can rehydrate freeze-dried meals and heat them up. The crew chose their menu after taste tests, balancing nutrition with storage space. Their meals include tortillas, vegetable quiche, barbecued brisket, and spicy green beans. They also have coffee, hot sauce, maple syrup, and other condiments.

Missions Like Artemis II

Artemis II's goals are similar to those of Apollo 8, which was the first crewed mission to the Moon in 1968. However, unlike Apollo 8 and Apollo 10, which orbited the Moon, Artemis II flew around the Moon without entering orbit. It followed a free-return trajectory, much like Apollo 13 did in 1970.

A comparison of the Apollo 8 and Artemis II mission patches.

The Artemis II mission patch was inspired by the Apollo 8 patch. The Apollo 8 patch showed an infinity symbol, representing the number 8 and the spacecraft's orbit. The Artemis II design has a curved path that looks like the number "2." It also shows Earth from beyond the Moon, similar to the famous Earthrise photo from Apollo 8. These designs show how Artemis II connects to these important past missions.

See also

In Spanish: Artemis 2 para niños

• List of Artemis missions
• List of missions to the Moon