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Artemis II is the first crewed spaceflight in NASA’s Artemis Program — a long-term campaign that aims to send humans back to the moon for the first time since 1972.
Launched into orbit by the 322-foot-tall (98 meters) Space Launch System and Orion crew capsule stack, the mission's four-astronaut crew will take a 10-day flight around the moon and back to Earth, testing key systems and studying the impact of spaceflight on human biology. The record-setting flight will send humans farther into space than ever before.
Following a major overhaul of the Artemis program in late February, NASA now aims to ramp its Artemis missions up to an annual tempo, with Artemis III — an Earth-orbit test of a lunar lander docking — falling in 2027. If successful, NASA will follow up with the Artemis IV and V missions, two crewed lunar landing attempts, in 2028. Stay tuned for updates to this developing spaceflight story.
Live updates of the historic Artemis II mission
Get the latest news and updates on the Artemis II mission as the countdown begins for NASA's return to the moon.
Latest about Artemis 2
Artemis II launch LIVE: What do astronauts do the night before a launch?
Live Blog Tuesday, March 31, 2026: Get the latest news and updates on the Artemis II mission as the countdown begins for NASA's return to the moon.
'80% chance of a go,' launch weather officer says at NASA's Artemis II prelaunch conference
NASA said an X-class solar flare is not currently expected to affect the Artemis II mission, while weather on Earth looks favorable for a smooth launch.
Artemis II timeline: 12 key steps that will take NASA astronauts to the moon and back
NASA is gearing up to send astronauts back to the lunar environment for the first time in nearly 55 years. We've broken the 10-day mission into 12 key steps, from the historic liftoff to a record-breaking splashdown.
NASA's historic Artemis II mission gets green light for flight as countdown begins
NASA has given the 10-day Artemis II mission the green light after its flight readiness review, and the weather outlook remains favorable.
'We are getting very, very close': NASA makes final Artemis II preparations as expectation grows for Wednesday launch
NASA's Artemis II crew is ready to fly around the moon, with promising weather forecasts for a Wednesday launch.
Farthest, fastest and most diverse: 6 major records the Artemis II astronauts will smash as NASA returns to the moon
The Artemis II astronauts will soon launch on the first crewed mission to the moon in more than 50 years. During this trip, they will travel farther and faster than any humans in history — and will each claim a different individual record.
Live Science Today: NASA announces $20 billion moonbase as unprecedented wildfires spread
Daily Roundup Wednesday, March 25, 2026: Your daily roundup of the biggest science stories making headlines.
Live Science Today: Earth hits record energy imbalance, Hawaii floods and NASA prepares for Artemis II launch
Daily Roundup Monday, March 23, 2026: Your daily roundup of the biggest science stories making headlines.
