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NASA · April 1, 2026
Crewed Lunar Flyby
ARTEMIS
II
The first crewed mission to the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972. Four astronauts will fly around the Moon on a historic 10-day voyage — paving the way for humanity's return to the lunar surface.
6:24 PM EDT
Launch
10 Days
Duration
4 Astronauts
Crew
Countdown Active
03
20
14
UNTIL LIFTOFF
Target Launch: April 1, 2026 at 6:24 PM EDT
2-Hour Window · Launch Complex 39B · Kennedy Space Center
L-48HT-0
93.0% of countdown complete
🚀
322
ft
Rocket Height
🔥
8.8M
lbs
Total Thrust
📅
10
days
Mission Duration
👨🚀
4
astronauts
Crew Size
🌙
270,000
miles
Max Distance
⏳
54
years
Years Since Last
🌕
4,000–6,000
miles
Lunar Altitude
🌡️
3,000
°F
Reentry Temp
About the Mission
First Crewed Lunar Mission in 54 Years
Artemis II builds on the success of the uncrewed Artemis I test flight in 2022. This mission will carry four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft — named Integrity — on a 10-day voyage around the Moon and back.
The crew will not land on the Moon, but will fly within 4,000–6,000 miles of the lunar surface on a free-return trajectory. This means gravity from the Earth and Moon will naturally guide Orion home, even if the engine fails after the trans-lunar injection burn.
During the lunar flyby, the crew will lose radio contact with Earth for approximately 45 minutes as they pass behind the Moon — and may set a new record for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from Earth.
Spacecraft
Orion ("Integrity")
Rocket
SLS Block 1
Launch Site
LC-39B, KSC
Splashdown
Off San Diego, CA
Artist's rendering of the Orion spacecraft during the lunar flyby on Day 6 of the mission