BREAKING: Artemis II Successfully Launches on Historic Moon Mission

Last Updated on April 7, 2026 by Daily News Staff

🕒 [UPDATE] Artemis II Reaches the Moon

Orion has reached lunar proximity, giving astronauts a historic view of the Moon as the spacecraft performs its flyby maneuver.

Artemis II Successfully Launches

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA has successfully launched its Artemis II mission, marking the first crewed journey toward the Moon in more than 50 years.

The powerful Space Launch System (SLS) rocket lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on April 1, carrying four astronauts on a 10-day mission around the Moon and back. 

On board are Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The mission is already being hailed as a major milestone in NASA’s effort to return humans to deep space. 

Shortly after liftoff, the Orion spacecraft successfully reached orbit and deployed its solar arrays, beginning its journey that will eventually send the crew on a translunar trajectory toward the Moon. 

Artemis II is a lunar flyby mission, meaning astronauts will not land but will travel farther from Earth than any human mission in decades while testing critical systems needed for future landings. 

The mission also marks several historic firsts, including the first woman and the first person of color—Victor Glover—to travel into lunar space. 

NASA says the mission is a key step toward future lunar landings and long-term plans to establish a human presence on the Moon later this decade. 

🛰️ Artemis II Mission Timeline

The 10-day Artemis II mission follows a carefully planned trajectory from Earth to the Moon and back:

• Day 1: Launch and Earth orbit
• Day 1–2: Translunar injection burn
• Days 2–4: Deep space travel
• Days 4–5: Lunar flyby
• Days 5–8: Return to Earth
• Days 9–10: Reentry and splashdown

For official updates and in-depth mission details, visit the following trusted sources:

• NASA: Artemis II Mission Overview
• NASA Artemis Program (Return to the Moon)
• Orion Spacecraft – Mission Details
• Space Launch System (SLS) Rocket Overview
• Kennedy Space Center – Launch Operations
• Watch NASA Live Coverage and Replays

🧾 Sources

• NASA official launch coverage and mission updates
• NASA Artemis II press materials and briefings
• NASA Kennedy Space Center launch operations updates

Stay with STM Daily News for live updates on Artemis II.