Artemis II: Everything You Need to Know About NASA's Return to the Moon

On March 19, 2026, NASA is expected to roll the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft to Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center, beginning the final countdown sequence for Artemis II — the first crewed mission to the Moon in over half a century. With a targeted launch date of approximately April 1, 2026, this mission represents one of the most significant moments in space exploration since the Apollo era.

Artemis II won't land on the lunar surface. Instead, it will send four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back, validating the life support systems, navigation, and operational procedures that will enable lunar surface missions later this decade. Think of it as the Apollo 8 of the Artemis generation — a proving flight that demonstrates humanity can once again travel to deep space.

Here's everything you need to know.

Meet the Crew: Four Astronauts Making History

The Artemis II crew is notable not just for what they'll accomplish, but for who they are — representing a deliberate expansion of who gets to explore deep space.

Commander: Reid Wiseman

A U.S. Navy test pilot and NASA astronaut since 2009, Reid Wiseman flew on ISS Expedition 41 in 2014 and served as Chief of the Astronaut Office. He brings extensive operational experience and leadership to the mission. Wiseman will be responsible for all major mission decisions and will serve as the primary pilot during critical maneuvers.

Pilot: Victor Glover

Victor Glover will make history as the first person of color to fly to the Moon. A Navy fighter pilot and test pilot, Glover flew on SpaceX Crew-1 to the ISS in 2020-2021, logging 168 days in space. He'll handle Orion's propulsion and navigation systems during the trans-lunar injection burn and lunar flyby.

Mission Specialist: Christina Koch

Christina Koch holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman (328 days on the ISS in 2019-2020) and participated in the first all-female spacewalk. She will be the first woman to fly to the Moon. Koch will be responsible for monitoring Orion's environmental and life support systems and conducting the mission's scientific objectives.

Mission Specialist: Jeremy Hansen

Jeremy Hansen will become the first Canadian to fly to the Moon and the first non-American to travel to deep space (beyond low Earth orbit). A Canadian Forces fighter pilot and CSA astronaut, Hansen has been training for spaceflight since 2009. His inclusion reflects Canada's contribution of the Canadarm3 robotic arm to the Gateway lunar station and the broader international nature of the Artemis program.

Mission Profile: 10 Days Around the Moon

Artemis II follows a carefully designed trajectory that will take the crew farther from Earth than any humans have traveled since December 1972:

Launch and Earth Orbit (Day 1)

The SLS Block 1 rocket — the most powerful rocket NASA has ever flown — will launch from Pad 39B with 8.8 million pounds of thrust. After an 8-minute ascent, the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS) will place Orion into a high Earth orbit. The crew will spend approximately one full orbit verifying all systems before committing to the trans-lunar injection (TLI) burn.

Trans-Lunar Coast (Days 2-4)

The ICPS will fire for approximately 18 minutes to accelerate Orion to over 24,500 mph, placing the spacecraft on a trajectory toward the Moon. During the three-day coast, the crew will test Orion's navigation systems, life support, radiation monitoring equipment, and communication links with Mission Control in Houston. They'll also perform a series of manual piloting exercises to verify the spacecraft handles as designed.

Lunar Flyby (Days 5-6)

Orion will pass behind the Moon at an altitude of approximately 6,400 miles (10,300 km) above the lunar far side — close enough to fill the crew's windows with the Moon's cratered surface, and far enough to maintain a free-return trajectory. During the far-side pass, the crew will experience a communications blackout of approximately 20 minutes as the Moon blocks the signal path to Earth. This is a critical test of autonomous operations — the crew must manage the spacecraft without real-time ground support, just as future Artemis surface crews will need to during lunar operations.

Return Coast (Days 7-9)

After the lunar flyby, gravity and orbital mechanics bring Orion back toward Earth. The crew will continue systems testing, document their observations, and prepare for the high-speed reentry. They'll also conduct photography and observations of the lunar surface that will contribute to landing site selection for future Artemis surface missions.

Reentry and Splashdown (Day 10)

Orion will reenter Earth's atmosphere at approximately 25,000 mph (Mach 32) — the fastest any crewed spacecraft has traveled since Apollo. The heat shield, the largest ever built at 16.5 feet in diameter, will endure temperatures exceeding 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Orion performed a skip reentry during the uncrewed Artemis I mission in 2022, and Artemis II will repeat this maneuver: the spacecraft briefly skips off the upper atmosphere before plunging back in for final descent, reducing G-forces on the crew. Splashdown is expected in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, where the USS Portland recovery ship will be waiting.

The Hardware: SLS and Orion

Artemis II represents the first crewed flight of both the SLS rocket and the Orion spacecraft's full life support system:

• Space Launch System (SLS): Standing 322 feet tall, SLS is configured in its Block 1 variant with two solid rocket boosters (derived from Space Shuttle heritage) and four RS-25 engines (also Shuttle-derived). It generates 8.8 million pounds of thrust at liftoff — 17% more than the Saturn V. The SLS core stage was built by Boeing at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans.
• Orion Crew Module: Built by Lockheed Martin, Orion is designed for deep space missions with enhanced radiation protection, a glass cockpit with modern avionics, and a life support system rated for 21-day missions. The crew module is 16.5 feet in diameter, providing approximately 316 cubic feet of habitable volume for four astronauts.
• European Service Module (ESM): Built by Airbus Defence and Space for the European Space Agency, the ESM provides propulsion (a single OMS-E engine derived from the Space Shuttle), electrical power (four solar array wings generating 11 kilowatts), and consumables storage. ESA's contribution to the service module is a key element of international cooperation in Artemis.
• Launch Abort System (LAS): Unlike Artemis I, the crewed Artemis II mission carries a fully active launch abort system capable of pulling the crew module away from the rocket in the event of a launch failure. The LAS can generate 400,000 pounds of thrust in milliseconds.

Artemis Program Restructuring: What Changed

The original Artemis plan called for a lunar surface landing on Artemis III, which would have used SpaceX's Starship Human Landing System (HLS). However, NASA announced a significant restructuring of the program timeline in late 2025:

• Artemis III is now planned as an orbital mission to the Gateway lunar station, rather than a surface landing. The crew will dock with Gateway (if its initial modules are in place) or perform an extended lunar orbit mission testing rendezvous and docking procedures.
• Artemis IV has been designated as the first crewed lunar landing, currently targeted for 2028-2029. This mission will use Starship HLS, which must complete an uncrewed lunar landing demonstration before being certified for crew.
• Blue Origin's HLS variant (selected as the second lunar lander provider) is expected to support Artemis V or VI.

The restructuring reflects NASA's pragmatic assessment that Starship HLS development — while progressing well — requires additional time for the uncrewed demo landing, orbital refueling demonstrations, and crew certification. Rather than delay Artemis III indefinitely, NASA chose to maximize the value of each mission by flying orbital objectives while the landing system matures.

What This Means for the Commercial Space Ecosystem

Artemis II is more than a government mission — it's the keystone of an entire commercial ecosystem:

SpaceX

While SpaceX doesn't build the SLS, the company is deeply embedded in the Artemis program through the Starship HLS contract (worth $2.89 billion for the initial demo plus $1.15 billion for an extended variant). A successful Artemis II validates the program's momentum, increasing the likelihood that Starship HLS contracts will proceed on schedule. SpaceX is also providing crew transportation to the ISS under Commercial Crew, maintaining the astronaut flight readiness that feeds into Artemis crew training.

Lockheed Martin

As the prime contractor for Orion, Lockheed Martin has the most direct revenue exposure to Artemis II's success. The company has contracts for Orion production through Artemis VII, representing approximately $13 billion in cumulative value. A successful crewed flight validates their deep space vehicle in a way that uncrewed Artemis I could not.

Boeing and Northrop Grumman

Boeing builds the SLS core stage, while Northrop Grumman provides the solid rocket boosters. Both companies have ongoing production contracts. Additionally, Northrop Grumman is building the HALO (Habitation and Logistics Outpost) module for the Gateway station, which becomes relevant once Artemis III orbital objectives are confirmed.

International Partners

Artemis II's international crew (with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen) reinforces the Artemis Accords framework, now signed by over 45 nations. ESA's service module contribution, CSA's Canadarm3, and JAXA's planned Gateway contributions create a web of international commitments that make the program more politically resilient and commercially diverse.

Emerging Companies

Dozens of smaller companies are directly involved in Artemis II or benefit from its success: Aerojet Rocketdyne (RS-25 engines), Jacobs Engineering (ground systems), Redwire (life support components), and many others. The Artemis supply chain extends across 48 U.S. states and multiple countries, creating broad economic impact.

Why It Matters: Beyond the Mission

Artemis II matters for reasons that go beyond testing a spacecraft:

• Generational Continuity: The last humans to see the Moon up close — the Apollo 17 crew — did so in December 1972. An entire generation of engineers, scientists, and space enthusiasts have grown up without witnessing crewed deep space exploration. Artemis II restores that continuity.
• Diversity in Deep Space: The first woman, the first person of color, and the first non-American to fly to the Moon — all on the same mission. This representation matters for inspiring the workforce that will sustain the Artemis program for decades.
• Program Validation: SLS and Orion have been criticized for cost overruns and schedule delays. Artemis I demonstrated the hardware works. Artemis II demonstrates it works with humans aboard. This is the mission that transforms Artemis from a program under scrutiny to a program delivering results.
• Gateway to the Surface: Every system validated on Artemis II — life support, navigation, communications, reentry — is a prerequisite for the surface missions that follow. This flight retires risk across dozens of mission-critical systems simultaneously.

How to Watch and Follow Along

NASA will provide comprehensive live coverage of Artemis II:

• Rollout: Targeting March 19, 2026 — Live coverage of the 4-mile journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Pad 39B aboard the Crawler-Transporter 2.
• Launch: Targeting approximately April 1, 2026 (exact date pending final pad operations). Coverage begins 2+ hours before launch on NASA TV, YouTube, and the NASA app.
• Mission Coverage: 24/7 mission coverage including crew activities, mission milestones, and press briefings throughout the 10-day flight.
• Splashdown: Live coverage of reentry and Pacific Ocean splashdown, including crew recovery operations.

Track the Artemis II mission timeline, SLS specifications, and related launch events on the SpaceNexus Launch Manifest. Monitor the commercial companies involved through our Company Profiles and track contract awards related to the Artemis program in Procurement Intelligence.