NASA is taking the next step toward returning humans to the Moon with the Artemis II mission. Sometime during the first week of April 2026, the Orion spacecraft will carry four astronauts on a journey around the Moon before returning safely to Earth. The flight will test Orion and its systems for future missions that aim to land astronauts on the lunar surface again. The last time astronauts walked on the Moon was during the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

The first flight in the program, Artemis I, launched in 2022. It was an uncrewed test that lasted 25 days. During that time, the Orion spacecraft traveled thousands of miles into deep space and orbited the Moon. This flight collected important data about the spacecraft's performance far from Earth. It helped NASA prepare for the Artemis II mission.

The Artemis II Orion spacecraft is currently scheduled to launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at around 6:24 pm EDT on April 1, 2026. This date could change due to bad weather or a problem with the spacecraft. However, NASA has several backup launch dates including April  3, 4, 5, and 6, and one more on April 30th.

When the mission proceeds, the spacecraft will carry NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. Artemis II will be historic for several reasons. It will be the first crewed flight around the Moon in over 50 years. Additionally, Glover will be the first Black astronaut, Koch the first woman, and Hansen the first non-American to orbit the Moon.

Orion will go around Earth twice before heading toward the Moon. The spacecraft will travel in a wide loop, flying around the far side of the Moon. Earth's gravity will then guide Orion back into the atmosphere. It is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California, on April 10, 2026.

Following the success of Artemis II, NASA will begin preparing for Artemis III. The mission, currently planned for 2027, will test docking in low Earth orbit.

Artemis IV, planned for 2028, is expected to land astronauts near the Moon's South Pole. This mission could also begin work on a permanent lunar base. The base will provide astronauts a safe place to live and work on the Moon.

Resources: NASA.gov, Space.com, CNN.com