The crew of Artemis II reported a smooth flight and a precise launch on Wednesday as they began their historic lunar mission.
NASA’s Artemis II moon rocket lifted off from Kennedy Space Center with hundreds of spectators watching.
The mission is taking NASA’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, as well as CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, on a 10-day trip.
NASA’s Artemis II moon rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-B Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
The mission is the first time since 1972 that NASA has sent humans on a path toward the moon. The test flight will confirm that the Orion spacecraft’s foundational systems and hardware can safely send humans into deep space.
“Artemis II builds on the vision set by President Donald J. Trump, returning humanity to the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years and opening the next chapter of lunar exploration beyond Apollo,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “Aboard Orion are four remarkable explorers preparing for the first crewed flight of this rocket and spacecraft, a true test mission that will carry them farther and faster than any humans in a generation. Artemis II is the start of something bigger than any one mission. It marks our return to the Moon, not just to visit, but to eventually stay on our Moon Base, and lays the foundation for the next giant leaps ahead.”
As the crew named “Integrity” flew by the International Space Center, a live stream showed the astronauts’ amazement as one crewmember stated, “I’ve got to get one more look before we move past it.”
Integrity will fly around the moon for several hours on Monday to take photos and provide observations. After the flyby, the spacecraft will head back to Earth at approximately 24,600 mph. According to Orion builder Lockheed Martin, that is fast enough to travel from Los Angeles to New York in six minutes. The crew will splash down in the Pacific Ocean.
A 24/7 live stream of the mission is available on YouTube.
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