LIVE UPDATES: Artemis II has launched, beginning the first crewed moon mission in decades
Artemis II Launches Manned Test Flight Around The Moon CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - APRIL 01: A U.S. flag waves as NASA's Artemis II Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft lifts off from Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center on April 1, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The 10-day mission will take NASA astronauts Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover and Mission Specialist Christina Koch and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen around the moon and back. The astronauts are supposed to fly 230,000 miles out into space, the farthest any human has ever traveled from Earth. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The Artemis II rocket has successfully launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
In this historic mission, four astronauts will be sent around the far side of the moon and back, marking NASA’s first manned mission toward the moon in more than 55 years. Astronauts last traveled to the moon during Apollo 17 in 1972.
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Artemis II Launches Manned Test Flight Around The Moon CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - APRIL 01: A U.S. flag waves as NASA's Artemis II Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft lifts off from Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center on April 1, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The 10-day mission will take NASA astronauts Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover and Mission Specialist Christina Koch and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen around the moon and back. The astronauts are supposed to fly 230,000 miles out into space, the farthest any human has ever traveled from Earth. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Artemis II Launches Manned Test Flight Around The Moon CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - APRIL 01: NASA's Artemis II Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft lifts off from Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center on April 1, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The 10-day mission will take NASA astronauts Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover and Mission Specialist Christina Koch and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen around the moon and back. The astronauts are supposed to fly 230,000 miles out into space, the farthest any human has ever traveled from Earth. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Artemis II Launches Manned Test Flight Around The Moon CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - APRIL 01: NASA's Artemis II Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft lifts off from Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center on April 1, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The 10-day mission will take NASA astronauts Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover and Mission Specialist Christina Koch and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen around the moon and back. The astronauts are supposed to fly 230,000 miles out into space, the farthest any human has ever traveled from Earth. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Artemis II Launches Manned Test Flight Around The Moon CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - APRIL 01: The solid rocket boosters (SRBs) detach after NASA's Artemis II Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft lifts off from Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center on April 1, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The 10-day mission will take NASA astronauts Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover and Mission Specialist Christina Koch and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen around the moon and back. The astronauts are supposed to fly 230,000 miles out into space, the farthest any human has ever traveled from Earth. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Artemis II Launches Manned Test Flight Around The Moon CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - APRIL 01: A U.S. flag waves as NASA's Artemis II Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft lifts off from Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center on April 1, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The 10-day mission will take NASA astronauts Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover and Mission Specialist Christina Koch and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen around the moon and back. The astronauts are supposed to fly 230,000 miles out into space, the farthest any human has ever traveled from Earth. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Artemis II Launches Manned Test Flight Around The Moon CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - APRIL 01: NASA's Artemis II Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft lifts off from Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center on April 1, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The 10-day mission will take NASA astronauts Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover and Mission Specialist Christina Koch and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen around the moon and back. The astronauts are supposed to fly 230,000 miles out into space, the farthest any human has ever traveled from Earth. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
NASA Prepares For Artemis II Moon Mission CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - MARCH 31: NASA's 322-foot-tall Artemis II Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft stand on Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center on March 31, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The 10-day mission will take NASA astronauts Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover and Mission Specialist Christina Koch and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen around the moon and back. The astronauts are supposed to fly 230,000 miles out into space, the farthest any human has ever traveled from Earth. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Artemis II Launches Manned Test Flight Around The Moon CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - APRIL 01: Mission specialist Jeremy Hansen of CSA (Canadian Space Agency) speaks to his family as he walks out of the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building ahead of the launch of the Artemis II at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on April 01, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The 322-foot-tall Artemis II Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft will take the astronauts around the moon and back, 230,000 miles out into space and the farthest any human has ever traveled from Earth. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
NASA Prepares For Artemis II Moon Mission CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - APRIL 01: (EDITOR'S NOTE: This Handout image was provided by a third-party organization and may not adhere to Getty Images' editorial policy.) In this handout provided by NASA, From right to left, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, commander; Christina Koch, mission specialist; Victor Glover, pilot; and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist wave to family and friends as they prepare to depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building to board their Orion spacecraft atop NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket at Launch Complex 39B, on April 1, 2026, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The rocket is being prepared for a scheduled 6:24 p.m. launch on a 10-day mission that will take four astronauts around the Moon and back to Earth. (Photo by Aubrey Gemignani/NASA/Getty Images) (NASA/Getty Images)
Artemis II Launches Manned Test Flight Around The Moon CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - APRIL 01: (L-R) Mission specialist Jeremy Hansen of CSA (Canadian Space Agency), pilot Victor Glover, commander Reid Wiseman and mission specialist Christina Koch walk out of the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building ahead of the launch of the Artemis II at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on April 01, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The 322-foot-tall Artemis II Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft will take the astronauts around the moon and back, 230,000 miles out into space and the farthest any human has ever traveled from Earth. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Artemis II Launches Manned Test Flight Around The Moon CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - APRIL 01: Family members of pilot Victor Glover wearing shirts with his picture on them arrive for the launch of the Artemis II at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on April 01, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The 322-foot-tall Artemis II Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft will take the astronauts around the moon and back, 230,000 miles out into space and the farthest any human has ever traveled from Earth. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Artemis II Launches Manned Test Flight Around The Moon CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - APRIL 01: People gather to watch the launch of Artemis II from the A. Max Brewer Bridge in Titusville, Florida on April 01, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The 322-foot-tall rocket will take astronauts around the moon and back, 230,000 miles out into space and the farthest any human has ever traveled from Earth. (Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images) (Gerardo Mora/Getty Images)
Artemis II Launches Manned Test Flight Around The Moon CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - APRIL 01: (L-R) Mission specialist Jeremy Hansen of CSA (Canadian Space Agency), mission specialist Christina Koch, pilot Victor Glover and commander Reid Wiseman walk out of the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building ahead of the launch of the Artemis II at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on April 01, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The 322-foot-tall Artemis II Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft will take the astronauts around the moon and back, 230,000 miles out into space and the farthest any human has ever traveled from Earth. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Artemis II Launches Manned Test Flight Around The Moon CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - APRIL 01: (L-R) Pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Jeremy Hansen of CSA (Canadian Space Agency), commander Reid Wiseman and mission specialist Christina Koch walk out of the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building ahead of the launch of the Artemis II at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on April 01, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The 322-foot-tall Artemis II Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft will take the astronauts around the moon and back, 230,000 miles out into space and the farthest any human has ever traveled from Earth. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Artemis II Launches Manned Test Flight Around The Moon CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - APRIL 01: People gather to watch the launch of Artemis II from the A. Max Brewer Bridge in Titusville, Florida on April 01, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The 322-foot-tall rocket will take astronauts around the moon and back, 230,000 miles out into space and the farthest any human has ever traveled from Earth. (Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images) (Gerardo Mora/Getty Images)
Artemis II Launches Manned Test Flight Around The Moon CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - APRIL 01: Mission specialist Jeremy Hansen of CSA (Canadian Space Agency) speaks to his family as he walks out of the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building ahead of the launch of the Artemis II at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on April 01, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The 322-foot-tall Artemis II Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft will take the astronauts around the moon and back, 230,000 miles out into space and the farthest any human has ever traveled from Earth. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Artemis II Launches Manned Test Flight Around The Moon CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - APRIL 01: Commander Reid Wiseman (R) poses for a photo with his family as he walks out of the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building with (L-R) mission specialist Jeremy Hansen of CSA (Canadian Space Agency), mission specialist Christina Koch and pilot Victor Glover ahead of the launch of the Artemis II at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on April 01, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The 322-foot-tall Artemis II Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft will take the astronauts around the moon and back, 230,000 miles out into space and the farthest any human has ever traveled from Earth. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Artemis II Launches Manned Test Flight Around The Moon CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - APRIL 01: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator Jared Isaacman attends the launch of the Artemis II at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on April 01, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The 322-foot-tall Artemis II Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft will take the astronauts around the moon and back, 230,000 miles out into space and the farthest any human has ever traveled from Earth. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Artemis II Launches Manned Test Flight Around The Moon CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - APRIL 01: Mission specialist Christina Koch walks out of the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building ahead of the launch of the Artemis II at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on April 01, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The 322-foot-tall Artemis II Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft will take the astronauts around the moon and back, 230,000 miles out into space and the farthest any human has ever traveled from Earth. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Artemis II Launches Manned Test Flight Around The Moon CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - APRIL 01: Pilot Victor Glover speaks to his family as he walks out of the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building ahead of the launch of the Artemis II at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on April 01, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The 322-foot-tall Artemis II Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft will take the astronauts around the moon and back, 230,000 miles out into space and the farthest any human has ever traveled from Earth. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Artemis II Launches Manned Test Flight Around The Moon CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - APRIL 01: (L-R) Mission specialist Jeremy Hansen of CSA (Canadian Space Agency), pilot Victor Glover mission specialist Christina Koch and commander Reid Wiseman walk to an astronaut transfer van as they depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building ahead of the launch of the Artemis II at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on April 01, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The 322-foot-tall Artemis II Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft will take the astronauts around the moon and back, 230,000 miles out into space and the farthest any human has ever traveled from Earth. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Artemis II Launches Manned Test Flight Around The Moon CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - APRIL 01: (L-R) Mission specialist Jeremy Hansen of CSA (Canadian Space Agency), pilot Victor Glover, commander Reid Wiseman and mission specialist Christina Koch walk out of the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building ahead of the launch of the Artemis II at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on April 01, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The 322-foot-tall Artemis II Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft will take the astronauts around the moon and back, 230,000 miles out into space and the farthest any human has ever traveled from Earth. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Artemis II Launches Manned Test Flight Around The Moon CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - APRIL 01: Commander Reid Wiseman makes a heart with his hands as he walks out of the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building ahead of the launch of the Artemis II at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on April 01, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The 322-foot-tall Artemis II Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft will take the astronauts around the moon and back, 230,000 miles out into space and the farthest any human has ever traveled from Earth. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
