Artemis II: NASA's first crewed mission to the moon since 1972
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.
Latest about Artemis 2

Live Science Today: NASA announces $20 billion moonbase as unprecedented wildfires spread
By Ben Turner published
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
By Ben Turner published
Daily Roundup Monday, March 23, 2026: Your daily roundup of the biggest science stories making headlines.

NASA's Artemis II rocket rolls to launch pad in final bid to meet April deadline
By Ben Turner published
A series of leaks means the coming launch window will be NASA's final attempt to meet its April mission deadline.

Live Science Today: Artemis II readies for rollout as auroras paint skies
By Ben Turner published
Daily Roundup Thursday, March 19, 2026: Your daily roundup of the biggest science stories making headlines.

Artemis II: NASA is preparing for a return to the moon, but why is it going back?
By Patrick Pester published
NASA's Artemis II mission is sending humans back to the moon for the first time since the Apollo era. Here are the reasons why the U.S. wants to return.

NASA fixes Artemis II rocket for April launch to take astronauts around moon
By Patrick Pester published
NASA's Artemis II is on track to shoot for the moon in April after engineers fixed the helium issue that grounded the mission's rocket last month.

NASA announces sweeping overhaul of Artemis return to moon
By Ben Turner, Brandon Specktor published
A major shakeup to NASA's Artemis program will step rocket launches up to an annual basis, and discard a Boeing-designed upper stage.

NASA set to roll Artemis rocket back for urgent repairs after yet another delay
By Patrick Pester last updated
NASA is about to roll its Artemis II moon rocket back to the Vehicle Assembly Building to fix a helium flow issue that guarantees astronauts won't fly around the moon in March.

NASA starts countdown clock for second Artemis II wet dress rehearsal after rocky first attempt
By Patrick Pester published
NASA will attempt to fuel its Artemis II rocket again tomorrow after hydrogen leaks derailed the first wet dress rehearsal and delayed what is scheduled to be a historic crewed flight around the moon.

Artemis II simulated launch window opens tonight as NASA delays mission due to 'rare Arctic outbreak'
By Patrick Pester published
NASA's Artemis II simulated launch is scheduled for tonight after Arctic weather forced the mission to be delayed. The first crewed Artemis mega moon rocket could still leave Earth as early as this weekend.
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