This spacecraft, sent on the Artemis II mission, lifted off on April 1, 2026, at 12:35 AM Kigali time, from the Kennedy Space Center.
This marks the first time in 54 years that NASA has attempted a mission to reach or approach the Moon again.
The massive spacecraft launched with extraordinary power, comparable to nearly four million kilograms of thrust pushing it into space. It traveled at a speed of about 16,090 kilometers per hour.
Two hours after launch, the four astronauts aboard safely reached space, enjoying breathtaking views of Earth from above.
They successfully crossed into space and began orbiting Earth. NASA confirmed that the astronauts are safe and fully prepared to begin their mission.
The mission commander, Reid Wiseman, said that the view of Earth from space is stunning, noting in particular how clearly Australia could be seen.
Some minor issues were encountered, including a temporary communication problem between mission control and the crew, which was quickly resolved.
During checks of essential life-support systems, an alarm light was triggered in the spacecraft’s restroom, requiring additional time for troubleshooting.
The mission will last 10 days, traveling about 400,000 kilometers from Earth. The astronauts will orbit the Moon without landing on its surface.
In the first 24 hours, the spacecraft will orbit Earth twice to test critical systems, including manual control of the crew module.
After these tests, the spacecraft will proceed toward the Moon.
During the journey, the crew will perform a backflip maneuver to practice future docking techniques.
In case of emergency, the astronauts’ orange spacesuits are designed to sustain them for up to six days.
Once near the Moon, they will orbit the far side at an altitude between 6,500 and 9,500 kilometers above the lunar surface.
They will have about three hours to observe and photograph the Moon. The return journey to Earth will take another four days.
Upon re-entry, the crew module will enter Earth’s atmosphere at speeds exceeding 40,000 kilometers per hour before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.
The Artemis II mission aims to deepen scientific understanding of the Moon and conduct further research based on new findings.
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, addressed the nation, thanking the entire mission team and the “heroic” astronauts for this remarkable achievement.
