Artemis II buzz: lunar flyby sparks nostalgia for Apollo 17. Gene Cernan left the Moon in 1972; Harrison Schmitt, a geologist-astronaut, was the last man on the Moon. Now? NASA’s moon return hype.
NASA is preparing to launch Artemis II, the first crewed lunar mission since 1972, targeting April 1, 2026. The mission will send four astronauts—three Americans and one Canadian—on a nearly 10-day flight orbiting the Moon without landing. The launch follows delays caused by hydrogen leaks and helium line clogs. Meanwhile, NASA is overhauling its lunar program, focusing on a surface base and nuclear propulsion demonstrations by 2028.
On April 6, 2026, NASA's Artemis II mission flew four astronauts—three Americans and one Canadian—around the Moon, reaching within 4,067 miles of its surface. The crew captured high-resolution images, including Earthrise and a total solar eclipse, transmitted back to Earth via an optical link. The mission tests Orion spacecraft systems ahead of planned lunar landings and aims to establish a sustainable Moon presence.
NASA's Artemis II crewed mission has launched from Florida, marking the first crewed lunar flyby since 1972. The four astronauts will travel over 400,000 km, setting distance records and testing systems for future Moon and Mars missions. The mission aims to pave the way for a lunar landing in 2028.
NASA's Artemis II mission, costing $4 billion, aims to orbit the moon with a crew of four, marking the first crewed lunar mission since 1972. The mission is part of a broader plan to establish a lunar base by the 2030s and compete with China for lunar dominance.
The Artemis II crew has completed a nearly 10-day lunar flyby, breaking Apollo 13's distance record and returning safely to Earth on April 10, 2026. The mission has tested NASA's Orion spacecraft, provided critical data for Artemis III's planned moon landing in 2027, and energized plans for a sustainable lunar base. The astronauts have shared their experiences and undergone medical checks at NASA's Johnson Space Center.