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Science & Nature • Space Exploration

Artemis II

Artemis II is NASA’s first crewed Artemis mission and a crewed lunar flyby designed to test the Orion spacecraft, the Space Launch System rocket, and mission operations in deep space.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Artemis II was NASA’s first crewed Artemis mission and a crewed lunar flyby designed to test the Orion spacecraft, the Space Launch System rocket, and mission operations in deep space. The mission carried four astronauts around the Moon and back, and it was the first crewed trip beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17.

Mission overview

Artemis II was a crewed test flight around the Moon and back to Earth. It followed the uncrewed Artemis I mission and was intended to validate the integrated performance of Orion, SLS, and mission procedures.

Crew and spacecraft

The mission carried four astronauts: Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen. The crew flew aboard the Orion spacecraft, named Integrity, launched by the Space Launch System.

Mission profile

The mission launched on April 1, 2026 and lasted about 10 days. After flying around the Moon, the spacecraft returned to Earth and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on April 10, 2026.

Significance

Artemis II was the first crewed mission beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972. It served as a major step in NASA’s plan to return astronauts to the Moon and prepare for later deep-space missions.

Key facts

  • Artemis II was the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis program.
  • It was a lunar flyby, not a landing mission.
  • The mission tested Orion’s systems, including life support, in the presence of astronauts.
  • The crew included Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, the first Canadian to fly on a lunar mission.
  • Artemis II marked the first crewed flight beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17.
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Canadian context

Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen flew on Artemis II, becoming the first Canadian and first non-American to participate in a lunar mission.

Frequently asked questions

What was Artemis II?
Artemis II was NASA’s first crewed Artemis mission and a lunar flyby test flight using Orion and SLS.
Did Artemis II land on the Moon?
No. It flew around the Moon and returned to Earth without landing.
Who flew on Artemis II?
The crew was Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen.
When did Artemis II launch?
It launched on April 1, 2026.
Why is Artemis II significant?
It was the first crewed flight beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 and tested key systems for future lunar missions.

References

  1. NASA — https://www.nasa.gov/mission/artemis-ii/
    Supports: Mission overview; first crewed Artemis flight; purpose and significance
  2. NASA — https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/johnson/artemis-ii-mission-milestones-an-image-and-video-recap/
    Supports: Launch date, crew, duration, splashdown details
  3. Canadian Space Agency — https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/missions/artemis-ii/mission.asp
    Supports: Jeremy Hansen’s role and Canadian significance
  4. European Space Agency — https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Orion/Artemis_II
    Supports: Crewed mission around the Moon; European Service Module role