Artemis II
First crewed Artemis lunar flyby
Artemis II was NASA's first crewed Artemis flight and the first crewed lunar in more than fifty years. Orion launched with Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen on April 1, 2026, flew a around the Moon, and splashed down on April 10 after testing Orion, Space Launch System, ground systems, crew procedures, and deep-space science operations.
Mission dossier
Flight profile, locations, hardware, and outcome in the same reference format used throughout the archive.
Flight profile
- Launch
- April 1, 2026
- Landing
- April 10, 2026
- Mission duration
- 9 days, 1 hour, 32 minutes
Places and recovery
Mission record
- Vehicle
- Orion spacecraft
- Mission type
- Crewed lunar
- Trajectory
- Free-return lunar flyby
- Maximum distance
- About 4,600 miles beyond the Moon
Assignment Manifest
The flight crew and the backup team assigned to train for this mission.
Prime crew
4 assignments
G. Reid Wisemanprime crewCommanderLaunched April 1, 2026Returned April 10, 20269 days, 1 hour, 32 minutesLed the Artemis II crew aboard Orion during the first crewed Artemis mission around the Moon.Open astronaut archive
Victor J. Gloverprime crewPilotLaunched April 1, 2026Returned April 10, 20269 days, 1 hour, 32 minutesServed as pilot for Artemis II, supporting Orion systems operations and crewed lunar-flight testing.Open astronaut archive
Christina Hammock Kochprime crewMission SpecialistLaunched April 1, 2026Returned April 10, 20269 days, 1 hour, 32 minutesServed as mission specialist during Orion's crewed lunar flyby and deep-space systems test.Open astronaut archive
Jeremy Roger Hansenprime crewMission SpecialistLaunched April 1, 2026Returned April 10, 20269 days, 1 hour, 32 minutesRepresented the Canadian Space Agency as mission specialist during the Orion lunar flyby.Open astronaut archiveMission Purpose
2 sources- Fly the first crewed Orion mission and verify spacecraft systems with astronauts aboard in the deep-space environment.
- Test Space Launch System, Orion, Exploration Ground Systems, crew operations, procedures, and recovery operations as an integrated crewed lunar-flight system.
- Perform an Earth-orbit checkout phase and targeting demonstration before committing Orion to its lunar .
- Carry out science and human-health investigations that support future Artemis lunar surface missions and Mars preparation.
Planned Flight Plan
2 sources- Launch phase
SLS launch and Orion
The Space Launch System launched Orion and the Artemis II crew from Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center.
- Early mission
Earth-orbit checkout
The crew checked Orion systems and performed a targeting demonstration before committing to the lunar trajectory.
- Outbound phase
Lunar
Orion traveled toward the Moon on a free-return path and carried the crew around the far side of the Moon.
- Return phase
and recovery
Orion returned to Earth, reentered through the atmosphere, splashed down in the Pacific, and was recovered by NASA and Department of Defense teams.
Mission Timeline
2 sources- April 1, 2026
Launch
Artemis II launched from Kennedy Space Center on the first crewed Artemis flight.
- Early April 2026
Systems checkout
The crew evaluated Orion systems and mission procedures in the early mission phase before the lunar .
- Lunar flyby
Around the Moon
Orion carried the crew around the far side of the Moon and reached a path extending about 4,600 miles beyond the lunar surface.
- April 10, 2026
Orion splashed down in the Pacific Ocean after 9 days, 1 hour, and 32 minutes in flight.