April 16, 2026
For the first time in over 50 years, humans have travelled around the moon again. NASA’s Artemis II mission launched on April 1, 2026, and sent four astronauts on a 10-day journey aboard the Orion spacecraft. Artemis II did not land on the moon. Instead, it was a test mission to verify whether Orion can transport astronauts into deep space and return them safely. This mission also tested whether astronauts can be sent to Mars. Over approximately 10 days, the astronauts orbited the Earth twice before looping around the far side of the moon in a figure eight and then returning home. During the mission, astronauts observed the moon up close, captured images of Earth from space and tested important systems for future missions. The crew included Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen. This mission is historic as it includes the first black astronaut, the first woman and the first Canadian on a lunar mission.
Watch this video to see the launch of Artemis II
L to R: REID WISEMAN, VICTOR GLOVER, CHRISTINA KOCH, JEREMY HANSEN | Image Source: nasa.gov
