On April 1, 2026, NASA launched Artemis II from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Four astronauts—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen—left Earth aboard the Orion spacecraft on top of the huge Space Launch System rocket. It is NASA’s first crewed Artemis mission and the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years, since Apollo 17 in 1972. (nasa.gov)
The mission is short, about 10 days, but it is very important. Artemis II is testing the rocket, the Orion spacecraft, and life-support systems with people on board before later missions try to land astronauts on the Moon. After launch, Orion opened its solar panels and began its trip. On April 2, the spacecraft completed a major engine burn that sent the crew out of Earth orbit and toward the Moon. (nasa.gov)
On April 6, 2026, the mission reached one of its biggest moments: a lunar flyby. NASA said the crew passed about 4,067 miles from the Moon’s surface and took pictures, including views of the far side of the Moon. The same day, Artemis II also broke the record for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from Earth, passing 248,655 miles and beating the old Apollo 13 record from 1970. (nasa.gov)
Why does this matter? Artemis II is not only a trip around the Moon. It is practice for the future. NASA says this mission will help prepare for later Moon landings and, one day, human missions to Mars. If all continues as planned, Orion and its crew will splash down in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego on Friday, April 10, 2026. For English learners, Artemis II is a great story to follow: it mixes science, history, courage, and a new chapter in space travel. (nasa.gov)










