Nasa launches four astronauts to the moon on historic artemis 2 mission

NASA launches its Artemis 2 astronaut mission toward the moon on April 1, 2026. (Image credit: Jim WATSON / AFP via Getty Images)

#Artemis

In a significant milestone for 21st-century space exploration, NASA launched four astronauts aboard the Artemis 2 mission on Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Departing from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard the powerful Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, the crew began a journey of approximately ten days that will take humans back to the vicinity of the Moon for the first time in over 50 years.

The Artemis 2 mission does not intend to land on the lunar surface, but rather to perform a orbital flight around the Moon, fully testing the Orion spacecraft and all its systems with humans on board.

This will be an essential step in preparing future missions that will take astronauts back to the Moon and, further on, establish a sustainable presence there.

The crew consists of four experienced and diverse professionals.

The commander is Reid Wiseman, a veteran of missions to the International Space Station.

Victor Glover serves as pilot, also with extensive experience in spaceflight.

Christina Koch, another veteran astronaut, will become the first woman to fly around the Moon.

Completing the team is Canadian Jeremy Hansen, who will make his first trip to space and become the first Canadian to travel to deep space.

The Orion spacecraft, propelled by the European Service Module (built by the European Space Agency), lifted off at sunset and was watched by hundreds of thousands of people.

After the separation of the solid boosters and placement in orbit, the crew will begin important tests, such as the operation of the life support system and the unprecedented space toilet designed for the mission.

In the coming days, they will perform an engine burn that will send them on a non-return trajectory around the Moon, reaching a record distance from Earth-more than 406,000 kilometers-surpassing even the Apollo 13 milestone.

This mission is compared to the historic Apollo 8 of 1968, but embodies the spirit of the 21st century: greater international collaboration, the inclusion of a woman and a Canadian astronaut, and a focus on detailed testing to ensure the safety of future flights.

The astronauts emphasize the team’s mutual trust and the importance of learning from each step, paving the way not only for a return to the Moon, but also for more distant explorations, such as future missions to Mars.

With the success of Artemis 2, NASA takes a firm step towards regaining leadership in lunar exploration, paving the way for manned landings in the coming years and a new era of scientific discovery in space.

Humanity is once again looking to the Moon as its next great destination.

Published in 04/02/2026 02h07

Portuguese version

Text adapted by AI (Grok) and translated via Google API in the English version. Images from public image libraries or credits in the caption. Information about DOI, author and institution can be found in the body of the article.

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