NASA's Artemis II: Humanity Returns to the Moon After 50 Years

After more than half a century away from deep space, humanity is about to venture beyond Earth's orbit once again. NASA's Artemis II mission is scheduled to launch as early as February 8, 2026, marking the first crewed journey to the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972. This historic mission will send four astronauts around the moon and back, paving the way for future lunar landings and eventually Mars exploration.

Meet the Artemis II Crew

The mission will carry four astronauts on a 10-day journey that will take them farther from Earth than any humans have traveled in over 50 years. Commander Reid Wiseman will lead the crew, joined by Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

Victor Glover will make history as the first person of color to travel beyond low Earth orbit. Christina Koch, who already holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman at 328 days, will become the first woman to fly around the moon. Jeremy Hansen represents a milestone for international space cooperation as the first Canadian astronaut to venture into deep space.