Artemis II

Seconds before the Artemis II spacecraft lands. Screenshot: NASA

Live broadcast: Artemis II landed safely

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Orion's first crewed deep-space test flight tested launch, flight, return and recovery systems — paving the way for the next phase of the lunar return program
On April 7, 2026, the Artemis II crew was captured in a rare moment of shared embrace inside the Orion spacecraft on the way back from the Moon. Pictured are Christina Koch, Jeremy Hansen, Reed Wiseman, and Victor Glover. The crew members were selected in April 2023 and trained together for three years in preparation for the mission. Photo: NASA

Artemis II Day 9: Orion orbit correction complete, preparing for atmospheric reentry and landing near San Diego

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In the past 24 hours, NASA completed another correction maneuver on the way back from the moon, restored contact after a brief communications glitch, and accelerated final preparations for atmospheric entry. Now all eyes are on the heat shield.
Moon colony. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Life on the Moon Won't Be Romantic: This Is What the True Test of the Human Body Will Look Like

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In preparation for an extended stay on the lunar surface, scientists warn of a dangerous combination of low gravity, cosmic radiation, lunar dust, isolation, and possible damage to bodily systems.
Earth setting after Artemis II completes its passage behind the Moon. NASA photo

Artemis II Day 7: Artemis II released the first images from its lunar orbit and continues safely on its return journey

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Artemis II crew members celebrate the completion of the passage behind the moon, April 7, 2026. Photo: NASA

Artemis II on the way back: Completed transit around the moon, human distance record broken, and viewing a solar eclipse

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Update 7/4 14:00: Orion passed behind the moon, came within 6,546 kilometers of the surface, set a new record of 406,770 kilometers from Earth, and also photographed areas from the far side.
In this fully illuminated photo of the Moon, taken by the Orion spacecraft, the near side of the Moon is visible on the right with the dark lava plains familiar from Earth-based observations. To the left is the Orientale Basin, a giant crater about 966 km wide that crosses both the near and far sides. Credit: NASA.

Day 6, Live: Artemis II Around the Moon; Orion Breaks Human Distance Record and Enters Mission Highlights

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The Artemis II crew surpassed the record of Apollo 13, making a historic pass around the moon and entering a window of scientific observations, communications blackout and a solar eclipse as seen from the spacecraft.
The Moon as photographed from the window of the Orion spacecraft at the end of Artemis II's fifth flight day (April 6, 2026), shortly before the historic pass around the far side of the Moon. Credit: NASA.

Live broadcast: The decisive day – Artemis II preparing to pass around the far side of the Moon

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NASA reports that Orion is on a precise trajectory for its passage around the moon on April 6, 2026. During the orbit, astronauts are expected to break the record for the distance humans have traveled from Earth and pass behind the moon.
Astronaut Christina Koch controls the Orion spacecraft during a manual flight test on day four of the Artemis II mission. She is flanked by Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen and astronaut Victor Glover. Credit: NASA

Artemis II Day 4: Crew practices manual flight of Orion and approaches historic flyby around the moon tomorrow

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NASA reported that Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen took manual control of the spacecraft for 41 minutes, while the entire crew completed scientific preparations for the lunar flyby on April 6. At the same time, NASA
A view of Earth taken by NASA astronaut and Artemis II commander Reid Weisman from one of the Orion spacecraft windows after completing the lunar orbit injection maneuver on April 2, 2026. The image shows two auroras, at the top right and bottom left, while the **Zodiac Light** is visible at the bottom right as the Earth obscures the Sun. Credit: NASA

Artemis II Day 3: Orion continues precisely toward the Moon without need for trajectory corrections; the receding Earth is fully imaged

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After the lunar orbit injection, the mission control center determined that the spacecraft was already on the correct path to pass near the moon on April 6, and the team began preparations for the scientific observation window around the moon.
An image of the Artemis II spacecraft orbiting the Moon. The transit is expected on April 6. Photo: NASA

Artemis II left Earth orbit and headed for the Moon

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Artemis II has completed a lunar injection maneuver and left Earth orbit. The Orion spacecraft and its four crew members are making their way to the Moon in a historic NASA mission.
A view of Earth from NASA's Orion spacecraft as it orbits the planet during the Artemis II test flight. The spacecraft launched on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, for a mission of about 10 days around the moon and back to Earth. Credit: NASA

Live broadcast: Artemis II nears lunar landing: orbit change maneuver expected tonight (Thursday-Friday)

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After completing the first orbit maneuvers around Earth and a close flight demonstration, NASA is preparing for the ignition that will send Orion into a free-return orbit around the moon; a brief communication loss was also reported in the first hours of the mission
Artemis II launch. Photo: NASA

Live broadcast: Artemis II launched on first manned flight around the moon since Apollo

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The Artemis II mission is set to be the first manned flight of the Artemis program, with four astronauts in the Orion spacecraft to orbit the Moon and back, as a crucial step toward resuming human presence on the Moon.
The Artemis II SLS launcher with the Orion spacecraft on its way back to the assembly building at the Kennedy Space Center in February 2026, after being returned to fix a helium flow problem. NASA has now approved moving forward again towards a launch attempt in April. Photo: NASA

NASA approves Artemis II for April launch to orbit the moon

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Illustration of the Artemis II spacecraft's trajectory and the lack of radiation protection for most of the trajectory. A. Fisher/Science

Artemis II returns humans to lunar orbit – and cosmic radiation becomes the main health challenge

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Space and astronomy, space medicine, cosmic radiation, Artemis II, NASA, Orion, space flight safety, personalized medicine
A photo of the SLS rocket with the Orion spacecraft on launch pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center during preparations for refueling. NASA photo, January 29, 2026

Unusually cold weather in Florida postponed Artemis II's wet general reentry to Monday and the launch itself a week later.

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There are only three possible dates left for the February launch window: February 8, 10, and 11. If that is not possible, a postponement to March or April will be required.
Image caption: NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Artemis II Orion spacecraft are seen illuminated at Launch Complex 39B, January 17, 2026, at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In the coming days, engineers will prepare for the "wet dress rehearsal," a two-day test that simulates launch day. Credit: NASA/Keegan Barber

Artemis II placed on launch pad: NASA moves forward with “wet return” test before crewed flight around the moon

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Artemis II crew members (from left) CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, and NASA astronauts Christina Koch, Victor Glover and Reid Weisman, exit the astronaut crew quarters in the Neil Armstrong Building to the Artemis crew transport facilities, before traveling to Launch Pad 39B As part of the Integrated Ground Systems Experiment at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on Wednesday, September 20, to test the crew's schedule on launch day. Now they will have to wait another year for the actual flight. NASA photo

The moon will have to wait another year

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NASA is postponing the Artemis II and 3 missions by a year to 2025 and 2026, respectively. The reason: repeated malfunctions. One of them occurred this week - the fuel leak from the Peregrine lunar lander.
Figure prepared using artificial intelligence software Dali 3. Crowded on the moon.

Space: The year 2024 will be busy, especially on the moon

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The new year is expected to be full of exciting space missions, from rocket launches and landings to the moon, manned flights around the moon, a new spacecraft to explore Jupiter and a demonstration flight of a new supply spacecraft to the space station
Astronaut on the moon. Image: NASA

The astronauts are returning to the moon, but they will not repeat the Apollo missions

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using the same main engines and solid rocket booster technology that powered the space shuttle. The space agency has made many improvements, and learned the hard-earned lessons from past disasters. SLS and Orion represent evolution
NASA's Artemis II mission crew (left to right): NASA astronauts Christina Mick Cook, Reid Wiseman (seated), Victor Glover and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. Credit: NASA

NASA has announced the four astronauts who will orbit the moon on the Artemis II mission, the first since Apollo.

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Among the four are Victor Glover who spent six months on the International Space Station, but at NASA for some reason they emphasize the color of his light, as well as Christina Hemock Cook - the first woman to fly to the lunar orbit
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