NASA’s Artemis II mission is reaching a pivotal milestone as the spacecraft approaches lunar orbit. The mission, which marks the first time humans have departed Earth’s orbit since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972, is currently executing a planned 10-day test flight around the Moon.
The crew—composed of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, alongside Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen—is scheduled to overfly the Moon on Monday, April 6, 2026. This journey has already yielded significant visual data, with the crew capturing striking photographs of Earth and the Moon. In a recent interview from the Orion spacecraft, the astronauts confirmed they have already witnessed the far side of the Moon, while new imagery has provided unprecedented views of the lunar surface.
The mission began on April 1, 2026, when the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft lifted off from Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 6:35 p.m. EDT. The crew successfully broke free of Earth’s orbit on April 2, 2026, following a critical six-minute translunar injection burn powered by Orion’s service module engine.
This flight is a vital step in the broader Artemis program, focusing on the collection of critical data and operational learning. Dr. Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, emphasized the significance of the milestone, stating, “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. Orion is operating with crew for the first time in space, and we are gathering critical data, and learning from each step.”
The successful execution of these maneuvers highlights the continued evolution of deep-space transit technology. As the crew completes their intensive schedule, the data gathered during this 10-day flight will be essential for future lunar exploration.
