Watch: The Moment Artemis II Blasts Into Space on Its Historic Moon Mission
The Artemis II crew are officially on their way — and the world watched live as the SLS rocket lifted off from Kennedy Space Center, sending four astronauts on a historic 10-day mission around the Moon. This flight takes the crew further from Earth than any human beings have ever been, surpassing even the Apollo-era distance records.
A Mission for the History Books
The crew on the 10-day mission won’t land on the Moon, but plan to circle it while travelling further from Earth than anyone has ever been before. Following on from the unmanned Artemis I mission in 2022, this marks the return of humans to deep space — a moment decades in the making. For a full breakdown of the mission details, timeline, and what happens next, read our comprehensive coverage: Artemis II — everything you need to know about NASA’s historic 10-day journey.
The Crew and What’s Ahead
Aboard the Orion spacecraft are Commander Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. Over the next 10 days they will conduct health studies, test spacecraft systems, and lay the foundations for Artemis III — the mission that will actually land humans on the Moon. For background on NASA’s evolving lunar plans, including the decision to abandon the Gateway space station, see our earlier piece on NASA’s new Moon base strategy.
