NASA launches historic Artemis II mission to Moon after 50 years

A crew of four astronauts boarded their spacecraft for the landmark flight, which represents a major milestone in lunar exploration.

NASA launches Artemis II to Moon

IMAGE: NASA's Artemis II mission to fly by the moon, comprising of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion crew capsule, lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on April 1, 2026. Photograph: Joe Skipper/Reuters

Key Points

First crewed mission to lunar vicinity since Apollo era, ending a 50+ year gap.
Launch delayed from scheduled 6.24 pm ET due to technical issues.
International crew of four aboard Orion spacecraft.
Multiple historic firsts: first woman, first person of colour, and first non-American on a Moon mission.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) Artemis II crew has officially embarked on a 'historic 10-day mission around the Moon', a journey that may see them travel further from Earth than anyone has ever been before.

A crew of four astronauts boarded their spacecraft for the landmark flight, which represents a major milestone in lunar exploration.

However, the mission faced an initial setback at the Kennedy Space Center, as the launch was delayed from its scheduled 6.24 pm ET liftoff while technical teams worked to address emerging issues.

The international team comprises NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, along with Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency.

First in 50 Years

This ambitious mission marks the first human return to the Moon's vicinity in over half a century and could surpass the distance records set during the Apollo era, venturing deeper into space than any previous human endeavour.

In a post on X, United States President Donald Trump extended his support to the Artemis II crew, framing the mission as a testament to American leadership.

'We are WINNING in space, on Earth, and everywhere in between -- economically, militarily, and now, BEYOND THE STARS. Nobody comes close! America doesn't just compete, we DOMINATE, and the whole world is watching. God bless our incredible astronauts, God bless NASA, and God bless the greatest nation ever to exist, the United States of America!' he said.

The Astronauts Making History

Leading the expedition is Mission Commander Reid Wiseman, 50, a former US Navy officer who joined NASA in 2009.

Wiseman, who previously spent 165 days on the International Space Station (ISS), once remarked, "I never thought I’d be an astronaut... it's like an unobtainable dream."

A single father since 2020, he has also spoken about the challenges of preparing his daughters for the risks of his profession.

NASA launches Artemis II to Moon

IMAGE: The crew of the Artemis II launch mission to fly by the moon, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen greet people before boarding the astronaut van for their drive to launch pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on April 1, 2026. Photograph: Joe Skipper/Reuters

Serving as pilot of the Orion spacecraft is 49-year-old Victor Glover, a Navy veteran and father of four who earlier worked as a US Senate legislative advisor.

Inspired by a shuttle launch as a child, he once said, "I really want to drive one of those."

Glover is set to become the first person of colour to journey to the Moon.

Mission specialist Christina Koch, 47, will become the first woman to reach the Moon's vicinity.

An engineer who has conducted research in Antarctica, Koch holds the record for the longest continuous spaceflight by a woman.

Guided by her philosophy to 'Do what scares you', she was inspired by the iconic Earthrise photograph from Apollo 8.

Rounding out the crew is Jeremy Hansen, 50, of the Canadian Space Agency.

A former fighter pilot, Hansen will be the first non-American to travel to the Moon's neighbourhood.

Although this will be his first trip into orbit, the father of three has long dreamt of the moment since seeing images of Neil Armstrong on the lunar surface.