NASA ARTEMIS PROGRAM · MISSION II · 2026
ARTEMIS II
HUMANITY RETURNS TO THE MOON

For the first time since 1972, humans return to the vicinity of the Moon — on a historic 10-day journey that will set new records and milestones.

MEET THE CREW MISSION DETAILS
LIVE STATUS
LAUNCH DATE: EARLIEST APRIL 1, 2026
LAUNCH PAD: LC-39B, KENNEDY SPACE CENTER
STATUS: ROLLED BACK TO VAB · HELIUM ISSUE
MISSION DURATION: APPROX. 10 DAYS
MAX. DISTANCE: >400,171 KM FROM EARTH
REENTRY: ~40,000 KM/H
SPLASHDOWN: PACIFIC NEAR SAN DIEGO
MORE WINDOWS: APR 3–6 · APR 30
LAUNCH DATE: EARLIEST APRIL 1, 2026
LAUNCH PAD: LC-39B, KENNEDY SPACE CENTER
STATUS: ROLLED BACK TO VAB · HELIUM ISSUE
MISSION DURATION: APPROX. 10 DAYS
MAX. DISTANCE: >400,171 KM FROM EARTH
// 01 — MISSION

The first crewed lunar journey
in over 50 years

Artemis II is the second mission of the Artemis program and the first crewed flight. Four astronauts will fly aboard the Orion spacecraft on a free-return trajectory around the Moon — without landing — and safely return to Earth.

What is a Free-Return Trajectory?
A free-return trajectory uses the Moon's gravity to naturally redirect the spacecraft back to Earth — without firing any engines. Even in the event of a complete system failure, the astronauts would return safely. This exact mechanism saved Apollo 13 in 1970.
10
DAYS
Total mission duration
4
ASTRONAUTS
International crew
400.171
KILOMETERS
Max. distance from Earth
~8.000
KM FROM MOON
Closest approach
40.000
KM/H
Reentry speed
54
YEARS LATER
Since Apollo 17 (Dec. 1972)
// COUNTDOWN TO FIRST LAUNCH WINDOW · APRIL 1, 2026
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DAYS
:
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HOURS
:
--
MINUTES
:
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SECONDS

ADDITIONAL LAUNCH WINDOWS: APR 3–6 · APR 30, 2026

// 02 — CREW

Four humans.
One historic mission.

The Artemis II crew combines 660 days of collective spaceflight experience and 12 spacewalks. They will set several historic milestones — for women, people of color, and international spaceflight.

Artemis II Crew — Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, Jeremy Hansen
ARTEMIS II CREW — 2026
Wiseman · Glover · Koch · Hansen
NASA · NASA · NASA · CSA
📷 NASA
Reid Wiseman
COMMANDER
COMMANDER 🇺🇸
Reid Wiseman

Former US Navy test pilot and NASA astronaut since 2009. Spent 165 days aboard the ISS during Expedition 40/41. As Commander, he holds overall responsibility for all mission decisions.

🏆 First Commander of a crewed lunar mission since 1972.
165 DAYS IN SPACE
US NAVY TEST PILOT
Victor Glover
PILOT
PILOT 🇺🇸
Victor Glover

NASA astronaut since 2013, US Navy fighter pilot. Flew SpaceX Crew-1 (2020–21), 168 days on the ISS. He pilots Orion to the Moon and will be the first Black human to leave Earth orbit.

✊ First Black astronaut to leave Earth orbit.
168 DAYS IN SPACE
CREW-1 VETERAN
Christina Koch
MISSION SPECIALIST
MISSION SPECIALIST 🇺🇸
Christina Koch

Engineer & NASA astronaut since 2013. World record: 328 consecutive days in space (longest solo stay by a woman). First all-female spacewalk. Will be the first woman ever to travel to the vicinity of the Moon.

🌙 First woman in history to travel to the Moon.
328-DAY RECORD
1. ALL-FEMALE EVA
Jeremy Hansen
MISSION SPECIALIST
MISSION SPECIALIST 🇨🇦
Jeremy Hansen

RCAF fighter pilot and CSA astronaut since 2009. Artemis II will be his very first spaceflight — straight to the Moon. First non-American ever to leave Earth orbit and reach the Moon.

🍁 First non-American on a lunar mission.
FIRST SPACEFLIGHT
RCAF PILOT
"We are going back to the Moon — not just to visit, but to stay. Artemis II is the bridge between where we've been and where we're going." — NASA ARTEMIS PROGRAM
SLS Artemis II on Launch Pad 39B
📷 NASA / KSC — JAN 2026
SLS on Launch Pad 39B
Kennedy Space Center, Florida
// LAUNCH PAD LC-39B

The most powerful
rocket system on Earth

On January 17, 2026, the fully stacked Artemis II system rolled out to Launch Pad 39B on the crawler-transporter — the same pad from which Apollo 10 and Apollo 17 launched.

Rollout speed ~1,6 km/h
Weight on crawler ~8.000 Tonnen
Distance VAB → Pad ~5,6 km
Duration of rollout ~10 hours
// 03 — TRAJECTORY & TIMELINE

10 Days.
386,000 Kilometers.

The mission follows a precise figure-8 route: from Earth into a high-elliptical 24h orbit with proximity ops, then via Trans-Lunar Injection (MTLI) to the Moon, around its far side at 6,400–9,700 km — and back on a free-return trajectory using lunar gravity.

EARTH ORBIT (24h)
OUTBOUND (TLI → Moon, 4 Days)
LUNAR FLYBY + RETURN
ORION (LIVE)
FREE-RETURN TRAJECTORY · NASA SVS
DAY 1 · HOUR 0
Launch from Kennedy Space Center, LC-39B
SLS ignites. The two solid rocket boosters deliver 75% of the launch thrust. After 2 minutes, the boosters separate, then the core stage separates. Artemis II ascends with a crew for the first time.
EARLIEST APRIL 1, 2026
DAY 1 · HOURS 1–24
High-Orbit Systems Check & Proximity Ops
Orion enters a high Earth orbit. The crew takes manual control, rotates Orion, and performs a simulated approach to the ICPS upper stage — a test for future docking maneuvers at Gateway during Artemis III.
SYSTEMS TEST PHASE
DAY 1–2
Trans-Lunar Injection (TLI)
The ESA Service Module engine fires the TLI burn, accelerating Orion out of Earth orbit. The free-return trajectory is now active. At this moment, the crew leaves low Earth orbit for the first time since Apollo 17 — 54 years later.
LEAVING LOW EARTH ORBIT
DAY ~4
Entering Lunar Sphere of Influence & Record
Orion enters the lunar sphere of gravitational influence. Course correction burns are performed. The crew breaks the Apollo 13 distance record of 400,171 km, setting a new human spaceflight record.
NEW WORLD RECORD
DAY ~4–5
Lunar Flyby — Far Side & Radio Blackout
Orion flies 6,400–9,700 km over the lunar surface on the far side. Radio contact with Earth is completely lost. The astronauts are totally isolated. Lunar gravity redirects Orion onto its return course to Earth.
COMMUNICATIONS BLACKOUT
DAY 5–9
4-Day Return Flight to Earth
Multiple trajectory correction burns optimize the course. The crew approaches Earth at nearly 40,000 km/h — faster than any crewed capsule has ever re-entered before.
RECORD REENTRY SPEED
DAY 10
Reentry & Splashdown in the Pacific
Steeper entry angle (modified after Artemis I heat shield findings). Orion descends under 3 parachutes. Splashdown in the Pacific near San Diego. The US Navy recovers capsule and crew with a San Antonio-class ship.
MISSION COMPLETE
// 04 — TECHNOLOGY

The most powerful rocket
in human history.

SLS and Orion are the cornerstones of the Artemis program — designed for deep space missions beyond low Earth orbit, with capabilities no other system in the world matches.

🚀
Space Launch System (SLS) Block 1

The most powerful rocket in NASA history. The core stage is powered by four RS-25 engines — legacy of the Space Shuttle — supplemented by two solid rocket boosters from Northrop Grumman. SLS is the only rocket capable of sending Orion and crew directly to the Moon.

HEIGHT98 m
LAUNCH MASS2,608 t
THRUST (LAUNCH)39,144 kN
LUNAR PAYLOAD27 t
🛸
Orion Spacecraft + ESA Service Module

The Orion spacecraft consists of the conical crew module (4 astronauts) and the ESA European Service Module. The ESM provides propulsion, water, air, and power via four solar panels. Currently the only spacecraft certified for deep space human missions.

CREW MODULE Ø5.0 m
TOTAL MASS~26 t
TRIEBWERKAJ10 (ESM)
SOLARPANELE4× (ESA)
🛡️
Heat Shield & Modified Reentry

The AVCOAT ablative heat shield, at 5 m diameter, is the largest of its kind. After Artemis I, spalling was discovered. NASA therefore eliminated skip-entry mode and modified to a steeper entry angle — less time in the critical temperature zone above 2,760°C.

MATERIALAVCOAT
MAX. TEMP.>2.760 °C
ENTRY TYPESteep (modif.)
PARACHUTES3× Main chute
⚡
Life Support, Radiation & Safety

Beyond Earth's magnetic field, astronauts are exposed to cosmic radiation. Orion has radiation monitors, CO₂ scrubbers, and N₂/O₂ atmosphere control. The Advanced Crew Escape System (ACES) enables emergency egress until the last second before launch. Solar superflare activity in 2025–2026 is being monitored.

ATMOSPHEREN₂/O₂ Mix
SUITACES Pumpkin
SOLAR MAX2025–2026
TIME IN DEEP SPACE~7 Days
// 05 — RECORDS & MILESTONES

A mission of
superlatives.

📏
DISTANCE FROM EARTH
>400.171 km
Previous record: Apollo 13 (1970). Artemis II will surpass it.
💨
REENTRY SPEED
~40.000 km/h
Fastest crewed atmospheric reentry of all time.
👩
FIRST WOMAN AT THE MOON
Christina Koch
Also holds the record for longest solo spaceflight by a woman: 328 consecutive days.
✊
FIRST PERSON OF COLOR AT THE MOON
Victor Glover
First Black astronaut to leave Earth orbit and travel to the Moon.
🍁
FIRST NON-AMERICAN AT THE MOON
Jeremy Hansen
First Canadian and first non-US citizen on a lunar mission.
⏳
GAP SINCE LAST LUNAR MISSION
54 Years
Apollo 17 landed in December 1972. The longest gap in the history of lunar exploration.
// 06 — THE ARTEMIS PROGRAM

Not just visit.
Stay.

Unlike Apollo, Artemis is oriented toward a permanent presence on the Moon — with international partners, commercial players, and the long-term goal: Mars.

ARTEMIS I
UNCREWED TEST

Successful uncrewed test flight of SLS + Orion with lunar orbit.

NOV 2022 ✅
ARTEMIS II
LUNAR FLYBY

First crewed lunar flyby. Systems test in actual deep space.

APR 2026 🚀
ARTEMIS III
MOON LANDING

First Moon landing since 1972. Target: South Pole. Search for water ice.

~2027 📅
GATEWAY
LUNAR STATION

International space station in lunar orbit. ESA delivers the Lunar I-Hab.

~2028+ 🛸
MARS
THE HORIZON

Long-term goal: crewed Mars missions using systems proven at the Moon.

2030s+ 🔴
Artemis Accords — 40+ Nations
The Artemis Accords are an international framework for peaceful lunar exploration. Over 40 nations have signed so far, including Germany, Japan, Australia, UK, Brazil, and many more. ESA delivers the service module for every Orion mission — one of the most important European contributions to spaceflight history.
// 07 — CHALLENGES & RISKS

The risks
of the mission.

🛡️
Heat Shield Spalling

During Artemis I, pieces of the AVCOAT heat shield spalled off. NASA modified the entry profile, eliminating skip re-entry. Extensive stress tests were conducted. NASA is confident the structure remains safe.

☀️
Solar Maximum 2025–2026

Researchers warn of elevated solar superflare activity through mid-2026. Outside Earth's magnetic field, astronauts face significantly elevated radiation exposure. NASA has assessed the risk and is holding to the April launch date.

💧
Technical Issues (Feb. 2026)

During the wet dress rehearsal in February 2026: a liquid hydrogen leak and helium issue were discovered in the ICPS stage. Rocket rolled back to the VAB. Launch delayed to earliest April 2026.

🌡️
Deep Space Physiology

The crew will receive radiation doses ISS astronauts have never experienced. Long-term effects on bones, eyes, the immune system, and cognition will be intensively monitored.

📡
Communications Blackout

Behind the Moon, radio contact with Earth is lost. The crew must act autonomously — without mission control. A rare moment of total isolation in space.

💰
Cost: $2.2 Billion per Launch

SLS is the most expensive rocket program in history. A single launch costs approx. $2.2 billion USD. SpaceX Starship awaits as a possible successor. Nevertheless: SLS is the only currently available and certified system for this mission.