Artemis II
Mission Tracking
Follow Artemis II moon launch coverage and NASA's first crewed mission around the Moon in more than 50 years. See the current mission phase, key milestones, and what happens next.
Phase
Trans-Lunar
Next Milestone
Lunar Flyby
Expected Return
T + 10d 04h
Why It Matters
Humanity's Return
Latest Artemis Feed
Meet NASA’s New Artemis II Science Officers
Hello, World
NASA’s Artemis II Mission Leaves Earth Orbit for Flight around Moon
Source: NASA Artemis RSS feed
Mission Roadmap
Follow the mission through NASA's official daily agenda and the NASA Artemis update thread.
Artemis II daily agenda
The approximately 10-day test flight will be packed with activity as the astronauts venture around the Moon and back, with teams checking out Orion’s systems along the way.
Artemis II press kit
Open NASA's official press kit for mission milestones, technical background, launch details, and crew reference materials.
Our Artemis II crew will be going around the Moon, but they'll always find their way back home 🌎
— NASA Artemis (@NASAArtemis) March 25, 2026
During this complex journey, the four astronauts will travel ~685,000 miles on a trajectory around the Moon and back to Earth.
See their daily agenda: https://t.co/172PVtri2Z pic.twitter.com/zsK5i6pirj
Source links: NASA official daily agenda and NASA Artemis account on X
Understand the Mission
What is Artemis II?
Artemis II is NASA's first crewed Artemis mission and the first crewed flight of SLS and Orion on a mission around the Moon.
Why are we not landing?
Artemis II is a crewed test flight designed to validate Orion, SLS, and crew operations in deep space before later lunar surface missions.
Difference from Apollo 8?
Like Apollo 8, Artemis II is a crewed mission around the Moon. Unlike Apollo-era missions, it is part of NASA's broader Artemis campaign aimed at sustained lunar exploration.
What's next after this?
NASA plans to use lessons from Artemis II to prepare for later Artemis missions, including future lunar landing missions.
Meet the Crew
These explorers represent the best of humanity, daring to forge new frontiers in space on behalf of all of humanity.
Legacy vs. Future
| Metric | Moon Launch Live (2024) | Apollo 8 (1968) |
|---|---|---|
| Spacecraft | Orion spacecraft | Apollo Command Module |
| Launch System | SLS Block 1 | Saturn V |
| Crew Size | 4 Astronauts | 3 Astronauts |
| Mission Type | Crewed Lunar Flyby | Lunar Orbit (10 Revolutions) |