When will Artemis II reach the Moon? NASA reveals the high-stakes lunar mission’s timeline and objectives

NASA Lunar Mission: Four astronauts embarked on a high-stakes flight around the moon on Wednesday (April 1, 2026), humanity’s first lunar voyage in more than half a century and the thrilling leadoff in NASA’s push toward a landing in two years. Carrying three Americans and one Canadian, the 32-story rocket rose from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, marking the space agency's biggest step yet toward establishing a permanent lunar presence.

“On this historic mission, you take with you the heart of this Artemis team, the daring spirit of the American people and our partners across the globe, and the hopes and dreams of a new generation,” launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson told the crew right before lift off, as quoted by news agency AP. “Good luck, Godspeed, Artemis II. Let’s go.”

Artemis II set sail from the same Florida launch site that sent Apollo’s explorers to the moon so long ago. The expedition will send the crew about 252,000 miles into space. This may break the record set by the Apollo 13 mission in 1970, when it was approximately 248,000 miles from Earth, as reported by USA TODAY.


Five minutes into the flight, Commander Reid Wiseman saw the team’s target: “We have a beautiful moonrise; we’re headed right at it,” he said from the capsule, as quoted by AP.

On board with him are pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canada's Jeremy Hansen. It is the most diverse lunar crew ever, with the first woman, person of color, and non-US citizen riding in NASA’s new Orion capsule.

When will the crew reach the moon?

The mission is expected to last about 10 days, with the crew reaching the moon's vicinity around day five or six before returning to Earth for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. The estimated date is April 6 or April 7, 2026

Purpose of Lunar Mission

The crew will not land on the moon. According to NASA, the lunar flyby mission is designed to test life support systems and critical operations, USA Today reported. This will apparently pave the way for future moon landings and Mars exploration.

ALSO READ: Artemis II launch replay: How to watch NASA’s historic liftoff if you missed it live