NASA - Artemis II the journey beyond the moon and back to Earth 1-10 April 2026
16 April 2026
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For the first time in over half a century, humanity has sent a crewed spacecraft to the vicinity of the Moon. I am sure everyone has followed the space news from NASA this month of the Artemis II rocket launch then the journey around the moon and returning to Earth and splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.
The news updates have reminded me of my childhood and the excitement of the Apollo Missions to the moon and the space rocket developments and along with the International Space Station and recent Space exploration voyages.
There has been many amazing images and videos shared on news reports and social media. Imagine what it would be like to look at the Earth from space.
Here are a few details about the Artemis II, the crew and the Moon Mission.
April 1, 2026, was the launch of Artemis 2 from Kennedy Space Centre. The beginning of the 10 day space journey around the moon. Artemis 2 is a lunar flyby mission. The crew flew around the Moon testing life support systems. The actual landing will happen during the Artemis 3 mission.
The crew consists of Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen. The crew travelled thousands of miles beyond the Moon, reaching a point farther from Earth than any human has ever travelled before.
The mission concluded 10 days after take-off with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, where the Orion capsule and its crew were recovered by a joint NASA and U.S. Navy team. The date is recorded as Friday 10 April 2026 (America time zone)
The Artemis 2 mission is the Space Launch System (SLS). While the SLS provides the muscle, the Orion spacecraft provides the brain and the shield. During the 10-day journey, the four-person crew rely on Orion’s European Service Module (ESM), provided by ESA, for air, water, and propulsion.
Check out NASA to learn more about Artemis II or follow these internet links for additional reading.
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https://spaceinformer.com/artemis-2-live-tracker/
Artemis 2 Moon Mission: All information and videos
DAY 1: The SLS Rocket ignites at Kennedy Space Centre. After reaching orbit, the crew performs critical health checks on the Orion capsule.
DAY 2: LEAVING EARTH
Trans-Lunar Injection (TLI): Orion fires its main engine to break free from Earth’s gravity, setting a direct course for the Moon.
DAY 4: LUNAR FLYBY
The historic moment. The crew swings around the far side of the Moon, reaching an altitude of 4,600 miles above the lunar surface.
DAY 5-9: DEEP SPACE TRANSIT
As Orion heads home, the crew tests high-bandwidth laser communications and monitors radiation levels during the long trek back to Earth.
DAY 10: SPLASHDOWN
Re-entry at 25,000 mph. Orion’s heat shield endures 5,000°F before a parachute-assisted landing in the Pacific Ocean.
Commander Reid Wiseman. NASA 🇺🇸 Veteran of ISS Expedition 41 and former Chief of the Astronaut Office.
Pilot Victor Glover. NASA 🇺🇸. First Black man to fly a lunar mission; Pilot of SpaceX Crew-1.
Mission Specialist 1 Christina Koch. NASA 🇺🇸 First woman on a lunar mission; Record for longest single spaceflight by a woman.
Mission Specialist 2 Jeremy Hansen. CSA 🇨🇦 First Canadian to travel to the Moon; Former fighter pilot.
NASA's Artemis II crew speaks for first time after historic mission - ABC News
They became the first humans to travel towards the Moon since Apollo 17 ended NASA’s initial exploration era in 1972. On Monday, they reached a record-breaking distance of more than 405,000 kilometres from Earth, surpassing the Apollo 13 record set 56 years ago. On the return journey, they hit speeds of up to 40,000 kilometres per hour as they re-entered Earth’s atmosphere — a high-risk phase that tested Orion’s heat shield against extreme atmospheric friction. Splashing down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday near San Diego, the Artemis II mission came to a successful conclusion.
The above information has been source from the internet links included in this article. I have also shared images or Artemis II from NASA and other social media sites.
Betty Matthews
17 April 2026