Our Artemis II mission concluded its historic flight around the Moon on April 10, 2026. Among its many milestones, Artemis II surpassed Apollo 13's record for the farthest crewed spaceflight from Earth. We laughed, we cried, and we pushed the boundaries of what’s possible, setting the stage for future innovation and exploration. We’re just getting [...]
Our Artemis II Moon mission is complete! Space Launch System rocket launched crew into space Orion spacecraft provided a safe “home away from home” for astronauts Flew around the Moon, observed its far side, and conducted science New human spaceflight distance record Crew safely returned to Earth Inspired the WORLD We're just getting started: https://www.nasa.gov/mission/artemis-iii/ [...]
NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, has a storied history of spaceflight and aeronautics research. Today, the center carries on the traditions of Neil Armstrong, and others, by supporting NASA's return to the Moon with Artemis Il and follow on space missions.
art002e009567 (April 6, 2026) - NASA’s Orion spacecraft captures the Moon and the Earth in one frame during the Artemis II crew’s deep space journey at 6:42 p.m. ET on the sixth day of the mission. The right side of NASA’s Orion spacecraft is seen lit up by the Sun. A waxing crescent Moon is [...]
The Orion spacecraft docked to the Gateway space station. Orion will visit Gateway for the first time on the Artemis IV mission when astronauts will use it to deliver the International Habitat (I-Hab) module to Gateway. Orion will return to Gateway to deliver additional elements on Artemis V and VI. [...]
art002e004429 (April 3, 2026) - The Artemis II crew is en route to the Moon on the second flight day of the mission. This photo shows the Orion spacecraft with the Moon in the distance, as captured by a camera on the tip of one of its solar array wings. [...]
A full Moon is seen shining over NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) and Orion spacecraft, atop the mobile launcher in the early hours of February 1, 2026. The rocket is currently at Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, as teams are preparing for a wet dress rehearsal to practice timelines and [...]
A side view shows the SLS (Space Launch System) Launch Vehicle Stage Adapter, Orion Stage Adapter, Orion spacecraft, and Launch Abort System of NASA’s Artemis II rocket at Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The Artemis II test flight will take Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialist Christina Koch from [...]
The Orion Crew Module, also known as the Orion Environmental Test Article (ETA), returned to NASA’s Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio, in January 2024 and completed an 11-month test campaign necessary for the safety and success of Artemis II. Engineers and technicians from NASA and Lockheed Martin subjected the test article to the [...]
The Moon is seen behind the SLS (Space Launch System) and Orion spacecraft, atop the mobile launcher on January 28, 2026. The rocket is currently at Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, as teams are preparing for a wet dress rehearsal to practice timelines and procedures for the launch of Artemis [...]
