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NASA has launched its Artemis II mission, ushering in the first crewed flight to the vicinity of the moon since the Apollo era concluded in 1972.

The 322-foot Space Launch System rocket lifted off at 6:35 p.m. ET (22:35 GMT) Wednesday from Cape Canaveral, Florida, propelling the Orion crew capsule into a planned 10-day mission.

Although Artemis II will not attempt a lunar landing, the spacecraft will follow a “free-return” trajectory, looping around the moon to demonstrate its ability to support astronauts on future deep-space missions.

NASA aims to return humans to the lunar surface during Artemis IV, currently targeted for 2028.

“We have a beautiful moonrise,” said Reid Wiseman, the NASA astronaut serving as mission commander, about five minutes after the launch. “We’re heading right at it.”

Launch Details and Delays

The mission lifted off from Kennedy Space Center, sending four astronauts on a historic voyage beyond low-Earth orbit for the first time in more than five decades.

Engineers worked through a series of technical concerns during a tense countdown. Teams paid close attention to hydrogen systems after previous leaks had delayed the mission, but no significant issues were detected on launch day.

Additional last-minute concerns involving battery sensors and the rocket’s flight termination system — a safeguard designed to destroy the rocket if it veers off course — were resolved before liftoff clearance was granted.

The 32-storey rocket rose into the evening sky before large crowds gathered near the launch site as the crew embarked on their journey around the moon and back.

Originally scheduled for as early as February 6 and later March 6, the launch was postponed after a hydrogen leak forced NASA to return the rocket to its assembly building for further inspection.

The mission had previously been delayed from November 2024 as engineers examined technical concerns, including the Orion capsule’s heat shield.

Crew Members

Three NASA astronauts aboard Artemis II bring prior experience from missions aboard the International Space Station, while a fourth crew member from Canada will be making his first spaceflight.

Reid Wiseman, 50, commander: A former ISS commander and test pilot, Wiseman leads the mission with extensive experience in space operations.

Victor Glover, 49, pilot: A U.S. Navy aviator, Glover is the first Black astronaut assigned to a lunar mission and previously flew on SpaceX Crew-1.

Christina Koch, 47, mission specialist: Koch holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman at 328 days and has participated in multiple spacewalks.

Jeremy Hansen, 50, mission specialist: A former fighter pilot, Hansen will become the first Canadian to travel to the moon, highlighting international cooperation in space exploration.

Timeline to the Moon

If mission parameters proceed as planned, the Orion capsule is expected to reach the moon around April 6, the sixth day of the mission.

The spacecraft will circle the moon, reaching its closest approach before beginning its return to Earth. Splashdown is scheduled for April 10, 2026.

Mission Plan

The Artemis II mission spans roughly 10 days and follows a structured timeline:

Days 1-2, high Earth orbit: The crew will spend the first one to two days in high Earth orbit, conducting detailed system checks on the Orion spacecraft.

Following these checks, the spacecraft will perform a translunar injection, a maneuver that pushes Orion out of Earth’s orbit and onto a trajectory toward the moon.

Days 3-4, translunar transit: As Orion travels toward the moon, astronauts will continue monitoring onboard systems.

The spacecraft will pass behind the moon along a free-return trajectory, ensuring a natural path back to Earth without additional propulsion.

Day 5, lunar sphere of influence: Orion enters the moon’s gravitational field, where its pull surpasses that of Earth.

Astronauts will test their spacesuits, practicing donning procedures, pressurization, and seating protocols.

Day 6, lunar flyby: The crew will make their closest approach to the moon, flying approximately 4,000 to 6,000 miles (6,450 to 9,650 kilometers) above its surface.

Days 7-9, return journey: Orion continues along its return path as astronauts carry out deep-space research, including medical monitoring under programs such as ARCHER.

Day 10, re-entry and splashdown: The capsule will separate from its service module and re-enter Earth’s atmosphere at about 25,000 mph (40,230 km/h), concluding the mission with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

Next Steps

NASA’s Artemis III mission is currently scheduled for 2027.

That mission will involve Orion docking in Earth orbit with a lunar lander, either Blue Origin’s Blue Moon system or SpaceX’s Starship.

The docking procedure is designed to demonstrate how astronauts will transfer to a lander in orbit before descending to the lunar surface.