Story perspectives

NASA's Artemis II to Launch Crewed Moon Mission in 2026

3/30/2026

Center

NASA's Artemis II Mission

NASA's Artemis II mission will launch on April 1, 2026, marking the first crewed lunar flight in over 50 years.
The mission includes four astronauts: commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
They will undertake a 10-day journey around the moon, testing the Orion spacecraft and preparing for future lunar landings, including Artemis IV in 2028.
This mission features the first woman and first Black astronaut to orbit the moon, highlighting a significant shift in diversity.

Right

British Engineers Support

British engineers at the Goonhilly satellite facility in Cornwall will support NASA's Artemis II mission, launching April 1, 2026.
The collaboration signals a United Kingdom role in deep space exploration as the facility tracks Orion data with modernized equipment.
Doppler shift analysis will pinpoint the spacecraft’s location during tracking.
If successful, the facility could assist Artemis IV to return humans to the Moon.

History

Historical Context

The Apollo 17 mission, launched on December 7, 1972, was NASA's final crewed lunar landing, with astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt collecting 110.5 kilograms of lunar samples. The upcoming Artemis II mission, set for April 1, 2026, aims to reignite lunar exploration with a diverse crew, echoing the collaborative spirit of the Apollo era and potentially establishing a sustained human presence on the Moon.

1 of 3

NASA's Artemis II Mission

NASA's Artemis II mission will launch on April 1, 2026, marking the first crewed lunar flight in over 50 years.
The mission includes four astronauts: commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
They will undertake a 10-day journey around the moon, testing the Orion spacecraft and preparing for future lunar landings, including Artemis IV in 2028.
This mission features the first woman and first Black astronaut to orbit the moon, highlighting a significant shift in diversity.

1 / 3