CIRA Satellite Library

In the late afternoon on April 1, 2026, Artemis II launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Artemis II was the second mission of the Artemis program, and was also the first crewed flight.

Artemis II carried four astronauts to the moon for a lunar flyby, sending humans back to Earth’s closest neighbor for the first time in over 50 years. While they didn’t land on the moon, the spacecraft flew around its far side, giving the astronauts aboard a view of the lunar surface that is never visible from Earth. Artemis II also flew further from home than any crewed mission in history.

On April 10, Artemis II splashed down back on Earth in the Pacific Ocean.

The Artemis program aims to one day land humans back on the moon, with plans to establish a permanent base on lunar surface. NASA also is planning for the Artemis missions to lay the groundwork for future human exploration of Mars.

For more information on Artemis II and the Artemis program, visit the NASA webpage.