April 1, 2026

The Artemis II mission, NASA’s first crewed lunar flight in over 50 years, will make history by sending the first woman and first non-white astronaut to the Moon.

Commander Reid Wiseman will lead the four-person crew, which includes Victor Glover, the first non-white person to fly to the Moon, and Christina Koch, the first woman selected for a lunar mission. The 10-day mission will see the astronauts fly by the Moon, potentially traveling farther from Earth than any humans before, reaching approximately 370,000 kilometers at their farthest point.

The Artemis II mission marks a significant milestone in NASA’s renewed lunar ambitions, announced in 2017 under the Artemis program. The crew will cover over 2.3 million kilometers in total distance aboard the Orion spacecraft. This mission paves the way for future lunar landings and deep-space exploration.

NASA’s last crewed Moon mission was Apollo 17 in 1972. Artemis II represents the first step toward returning humans to the lunar surface and establishing a sustainable presence. The mission is scheduled to launch in the coming years, with further details expected as preparations progress.