On April 1, 2026, four astronauts will fly around the Moon for the first time since 1972. Here is your complete family guide to Artemis II — the crew, the mission, how to watch, and why it matters.
1What Is Artemis II and Why Is It Historic?
Artemis II is NASA's first crewed mission of the Artemis program — the bold initiative to return humans to the Moon and eventually establish a permanent presence there. On April 1, 2026, four astronauts will climb aboard NASA's Orion spacecraft, perched atop the enormous Space Launch System rocket at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and begin a 10-day journey that will take them around the Moon. This will be the first time human beings have traveled to the Moon's vicinity in over 53 years — since the crew of Apollo 17 departed the lunar surface on December 14, 1972. Artemis II is not a landing mission; it is a critical proving flight that will test Orion's systems in the deep space environment, validate life support in the harsh radiation beyond Earth's protective magnetic field, and demonstrate the navigation and communication systems that Artemis III will rely on when it attempts the actual lunar landing. Think of it as a full dress rehearsal for the return to the Moon — an absolutely essential step, and one that is breathtaking in its own right.
- Mission type: Free-return trajectory around the Moon — no landing
- Launch date: April 1, 2026 at 6:24 PM EDT from Launch Complex 39B
- Mission duration: Approximately 10 days from launch to splashdown
- Rocket: Space Launch System (SLS) Block 1 — 322 feet tall, 8.8 million lbs thrust
- Spacecraft: Orion — NASA's deep space crew vehicle with European Service Module
- Closest approach to Moon: Approximately 9,200 km (5,700 miles) from the lunar surface
2Meet the Artemis II Crew: The First Humans Bound for the Moon Since 1972
The four astronauts selected for Artemis II represent the diversity and excellence of NASA's astronaut corps. Commander Reid Wiseman, a veteran Navy test pilot and former commander of the International Space Station, will lead the mission. Wiseman is known for his ability to remain calm under pressure and his deep expertise in spacecraft systems — qualities that are essential for a mission pushing the boundaries of human spaceflight. Pilot Victor Glover, a Navy test pilot and veteran of a long-duration ISS mission, will become the first Black astronaut to travel to the Moon — a moment of profound historical significance that extends far beyond the technical achievement. Mission Specialist Christina Koch holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman at 328 days and will become the first woman to fly to the Moon. Koch's scientific expertise and calm professionalism make her ideally suited for a mission where everything is happening for the first time. Rounding out the crew is Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who will be the first Canadian — and the first person from outside the United States or Soviet Union/Russia — to travel beyond low Earth orbit. Together, this crew embodies the spirit of inclusive exploration that defines the Artemis era.
Research each Artemis II crew member and write a one-paragraph biography of each one. Include their hometown, how they became an astronaut, and one thing that makes them uniquely qualified for this mission. Then write who you would choose as a fifth crew member if you could add anyone — a scientist, a doctor, a teacher — and explain why. This is exactly the kind of crew selection analysis NASA's astronaut selection board does!
3The Mission Timeline: Day by Day Around the Moon
The Artemis II mission follows a carefully planned trajectory that maximizes safety while thoroughly testing Orion's systems. On launch day, the SLS will ignite its four RS-25 engines and two solid rocket boosters, producing 8.8 million pounds of thrust to lift the 97-meter-tall rocket off Pad 39B. About 8 minutes after launch, the core stage will separate and the interim cryogenic propulsion stage will place Orion in a low Earth orbit. The crew will then spend the first two days performing critical systems checks — testing life support, communications, displays, and every system that will keep them alive in deep space. After the systems checks are complete, Orion's engine will fire to send the spacecraft out of Earth orbit on a translunar injection burn — the moment the crew officially leaves the vicinity of Earth. Over the following days, Orion will arc out toward the Moon on a free-return trajectory, meaning that even if the engine fails, gravity alone will bring the spacecraft back to Earth safely. On approximately days 5-6, the crew will make their closest approach to the Moon, passing within about 9,200 kilometers of the lunar surface before looping around and beginning the return journey to Earth. On day 10, Orion will reenter Earth's atmosphere at 40,000 km/h — faster than any human spacecraft since Apollo — and parachute to splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
- Launch day (April 1): Liftoff at 6:24 PM EDT, Earth orbit insertion, systems checks begin
- Days 1-2: Critical systems testing in Earth orbit — life support, navigation, comms
- Day 3: Translunar injection burn — leaving Earth orbit, heading to the Moon
- Days 4-5: Transit to lunar vicinity — crossing the 385,000 km distance
- Day 5-6: Closest Moon approach — 9,200 km from the lunar surface
- Days 7-9: Return journey toward Earth — gravity-assisted free-return trajectory
- Day 10: Atmospheric reentry at 40,000 km/h, parachutes, Pacific Ocean splashdown
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4The Technology: SLS, Orion, and the European Service Module
The Artemis II mission uses two spacecraft systems that represent the pinnacle of human engineering. The Space Launch System, or SLS, is the most powerful rocket NASA has ever built — more powerful than the Saturn V that carried Apollo astronauts to the Moon when measured by its ability to send payloads beyond Earth orbit. Its core stage stands 65 meters tall and burns liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen in four RS-25 engines — the same engines that powered the Space Shuttle, but modified for this new mission. Two five-segment solid rocket boosters provide additional thrust at launch, burning through their solid propellant in just over two minutes before separating and falling into the Atlantic Ocean. The Orion spacecraft is NASA's most advanced crew vehicle, designed specifically for the harsh environment of deep space. It is larger than the Apollo capsule, with room for four crew members and sophisticated life support systems capable of sustaining the crew for up to 21 days. The European Service Module, contributed by the European Space Agency, provides Orion's power, propulsion, and thermal control. This international partnership — with European hardware enabling an American Moon mission — is a model for how global cooperation will continue to advance space exploration.
Download the official NASA Artemis mission poster and print it out! Then research each part of the SLS and Orion system and write the name and function of each component on a separate sticky note. Attach the sticky notes to the appropriate part of the poster. By the time you are done, you will understand exactly how the most complex human-rated spacecraft in history works!
5How and Where to Watch the Artemis II Launch Live
The Artemis II launch promises to be one of the most spectacular visual spectacles in the history of spaceflight. The SLS is the tallest and most powerful rocket to launch from Kennedy Space Center since Saturn V, and its eight engines produce a flame that will be visible for hundreds of kilometers. On launch day, April 1 at 6:24 PM EDT, the rocket will rise into a Florida evening sky — timing that is perfect for dramatic photographs and video. If you are watching from the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex or from public viewing areas on the Space Coast, you will hear the thunderous rumble of 8.8 million pounds of thrust a few seconds after seeing the rocket rise — sound travels much slower than light. NASA TV will stream the entire launch live, with commentary beginning several hours before liftoff. The SpaceX and NASA YouTube channels will both carry the stream, as will major news networks. If you cannot be in Florida in person, set up a viewing party at home with a good screen, space-themed snacks, and a printout of the mission timeline so you can follow along. Backup launch windows are available April 2-6, then a longer wait until late April if needed due to orbital mechanics constraints.
- Primary window: April 1, 2026 at 6:24 PM EDT
- Backup windows: April 2-6, 2026 (daily windows during this period)
- Watch free: NASA TV on YouTube, NASA app, major news networks
- In person: KSC Visitor Complex tickets — sell out fast, book early
- Best viewing areas: Titusville, Merritt Island, Cocoa Beach (public, free)
- The launch will be visible across all of Florida and parts of Georgia and South Carolina
6What Artemis II Means for Kids Growing Up Today
For children and teenagers watching Artemis II launch on April 1, 2026, this moment carries a special significance. The last time humans flew to the Moon, in December 1972, it was during a different era — before the internet, before personal computers, when space exploration was the domain of a small number of test pilots and scientists. The Artemis program is different: it is designed from the beginning to be sustainable, inclusive, and international. The technologies being tested on Artemis II will enable a permanent human presence on the Moon — a lunar base camp where scientists from many countries will work and live — and eventually the first human missions to Mars. Young people watching Artemis II are not just watching history repeat itself; they are watching the first steps of humanity's expansion beyond our home planet. Many children alive today will see humans living on the Moon. Some of them will be astronauts themselves, or the engineers and scientists who make those missions possible. The question NASA asks of every young person watching a launch is the same question that drives the entire space program: What role will you play in humanity's next great adventure?
On launch night, start an "Artemis Mission Journal." Write down what you see, hear, and feel during the launch. Record your predictions: Do you think the mission will go exactly as planned? What do you think the crew will feel at their closest approach to the Moon? After the mission, look back at what you wrote and see how accurate your predictions were. In years to come, this journal will be a fascinating personal record of a moment in history.
