Home / Science / Artemis II: First Moon Flyby in 50+ Years Set for April 1
Artemis II: First Moon Flyby in 50+ Years Set for April 1
13 Mar
Summary
- Artemis II aims for the first crewed Moon flyby in over 50 years.
- Launch is targeted for April 1, 2026, with multiple windows available.
- Four astronauts will circumnavigate Earth before heading to the Moon.
The Artemis II mission, poised to conduct the first crewed flyby of the Moon in more than 50 years, is tentatively scheduled for launch as early as April 1, 2026. This crucial test flight aims to send a crew of four astronauts, including three from the United States and one from Canada, on a trajectory around Earth before journeying towards lunar orbit.
Following the launch, Artemis II will perform a flyby of the Moon without landing, marking a significant step in NASA's renewed lunar exploration program. The mission is designed to cover a distance of tens of thousands of miles closer to the Moon than any humans have been in over five decades, paving the way for subsequent Artemis missions, including a planned lunar landing by 2028.
