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After 50 years, four astronauts set course for the far side of the Moon...
Today is April 1, 2026. Yes, you read that right. And this is no joke. NASA's Artemis II mission is set to launch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 01:24 AM Turkish time. When the ignition mixture beneath the rocket ignites, we will be sending four astronauts beyond Earth's orbit and into the vicinity of the Moon for the first time since 1972. This is not merely a test flight, this is the rekindling of our species' universal curiosity.
Setting the Scene: 9 Million Pounds of Thrust
The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket is standing upright at Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center. At 98 meters tall "taller than the Statue of Liberty" this colossal structure is the most powerful active rocket in the history of humankind.
At the moment of launch, it will generate approximately 8.8 million pounds (4 million kilograms) of thrust. The Orion capsule will reach a speed of roughly 8 kilometers per second, the equivalent of traveling the length of 70 football fields in the blink of an eye.
Weather conditions look favorable at 80 percent. The crew suited up this morning. The tanks are full. The countdown has begun. The time has come to prove, once again, that we are a species that knows what it wants from the universe.
Four Humans, One Moon, Countless Firsts
Look at the Artemis II crew and watch history being written. Led by Commander Reid Wiseman, alongside pilot Victor Glover, mission specialists Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency, this four-person crew is preparing to break more than one record.
Victor Glover will become the first person of color to travel beyond low Earth orbit. Christina Koch will be the first woman to cross that boundary. Reid Wiseman will hold the title of the oldest astronaut to undertake this mission. Jeremy Hansen will go down in history as the first non-American to journey around the Moon.
These are not merely symbolic achievements. They are proof that science and humanity overflow beyond all borders. Commander Wiseman's words upon arriving at Kennedy summed it all up: "Let's go to the Moon!" That just might be the most pure and honest sentence a human being has ever uttered.
A 10-Day Journey: The Free-Return Trajectory
Artemis II will not land on the Moon. This is a test flight, and that is an extremely wise decision. The Apollo program also went to orbit before it landed Artemis is advancing with the same cautious, scientific steps.
Approximately 25 hours after launch, the Orion capsule will perform a critical maneuver: a six-minute engine burn known as Trans-Lunar Injection. This will increase the spacecraft's speed by approximately 1,450 kilometers per hour and propel it out of Earth's orbit toward the Moon.
After a four-day journey, the crew will reach a point approximately 7,600 kilometers beyond the Moon closer than any human has ever been. There, they will observe the far side of the Moon, regions that have never before been seen by human eyes. Thanks to their free-return trajectory, they will make their way back to Earth without burning additional fuel, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean on April 10.
Total distance to be covered: 1.1 million kilometers. This is one of the greatest distances humanity has ever traveled.
Why Does Artemis II Matter So Much?
In 1972, Apollo 17 carried the last humans to the Moon. Since that day, humanity has never left low Earth orbit. 54 years. My entire generation grew up without ever witnessing humans venture beyond low Earth orbit with their own eyes. Artemis II changes that.
This mission is also critically important from a scientific standpoint. An experimental system called AVATAR (A Virtual Astronaut Tissue Analog Response), flying aboard the Orion capsule, mimics human organs through small chip-based devices and measures the biological effects of increased radiation in space.
Observing the far side of the Moon will also allow for testing of the navigation and communications infrastructure needed for long-range exploration missions. This data will form the foundation for establishing a permanent base on the Moon and, in the years ahead, reaching Mars. For more of our coverage on the science behind deep space exploration, check out our science articles.
From Apollo to Artemis: This Time, We're Going to Stay
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman described this mission in these words: "This time, we're not going to plant a flag and leave footprints. This time, we're going to stay. America will not leave the Moon again."
The Artemis program's roadmap is clear: a crewed flight test with Artemis II in 2026, landing module trials in low Earth orbit with Artemis III in 2027, and the first lunar surface landing with Artemis IV in 2028. SpaceX's Starship HLS and Blue Origin's Blue Moon are positioned as key vehicles throughout this process.
If you're fascinated by the commercial side of this space race, our technology coverage dives deep into what companies like SpaceX are building right now.
Look Up at the Sky Tonight
Tonight also marks the rising of April's Pink Full Moon. With this full moon shining in the sky as Artemis II launches, it is as though the universe itself wants to join in the celebration. As Christina Koch put it, on the far side of the Moon there are "places no human eye has ever seen." Tonight, human eyes will see those places for the very first time.
The universe is infinite, and we live on a small planet. But today, four inhabitants of that small planet received 8.8 million pounds of thrust to step forward into the darkness. This is humanity at its finest: our curiosity is greater than our courage.
Godspeed, Artemis II.
