| In this week’s newsletter, we’re tracking NASA’s Artemis II mission, which lifted off from Launch Pad 39B at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 6:35 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, April 1. The launch sent four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft on a planned test flight around the Moon and back. Keep reading for ways to get involved, where to watch live coverage, and how to explore the mission in more depth. |
| ARTEMIS Artemis II Begins Historic Moon Mission  |
| Spurred by American ingenuity, astronauts on NASA’s Artemis II mission are in flight, preparing for the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years. NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket lifted off from Launch Pad 39B at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 6:35 p.m. EDT Wednesday, sending four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft on a planned test flight around the Moon and back. “Today’s launch marks a defining moment for our nation and for all who believe in exploration. Artemis II builds on the vision set by President Donald J. Trump, returning humanity to the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years and opening the next chapter of lunar exploration beyond Apollo. Aboard Orion are four remarkable explorers preparing for the first crewed flight of this rocket and spacecraft, a true test mission that will carry them farther and faster than any humans in a generation,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “Artemis II is the start of something bigger than any one mission. It marks our return to the Moon, not just to visit, but to eventually stay on our Moon Base, and lays the foundation for the next giant leaps ahead.” The successful launch is the beginning of an approximately 10-day mission for NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen. As the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis program, among its objectives, the flight will demonstrate life support systems for the first time with crew and lay the foundation for an enduring presence on the Moon ahead of future missions to Mars. LEARN MORE |
ARTEMIS
24/7 Live Mission Coverage
For the first time in more than 50 years, astronauts on a NASA mission are set to fly around the Moon. During Thursday’s approximately six‑minute translunar injection burn, Orion and its crew accelerated to break free of Earth’s orbit and began the outbound trajectory toward Earth’s nearest neighbor. Stay with us for continuing live coverage of Artemis II, the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis program.
 | ARTEMIS Tracking Artemis NASA welcomes everyone to follow along with the Artemis II mission, and people around the world can easily track the Orion spacecraft using the Artemis Real‑time Orbit Website, or AROW. With AROW, you can see live visualizations based on data collected by Orion’s onboard sensors and sent back to Mission Control at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The site will share continuous, real‑time updates from liftoff through Orion’s return to Earth. WHERE IS ORION? |
 | ARTEMIS What’s on the Menu? The food flying aboard Artemis II is designed to support crew health and performance during the mission around the Moon. With no resupply, refrigeration, or late-load capability, all meals must be carefully selected to remain safe, shelf-stable, and easy to prepare and consume in NASA’s Orion spacecraft. Food selections are developed in coordination with space food experts and the crew to balance calorie needs, hydration, and nutrient intake while accommodating individual crew preferences. ARTEMIS II FOOD SYSTEMS |
 | ARTEMIS Artemis Audio Library Teams across NASA are capturing the story of Artemis by recording mission activities—from interviews with subject-matter experts to behind-the-scenes audio during launches, testing, and operations. The Artemis Audio Library will continue to grow as new mission audio becomes available. Recordings include launch and mission operations sounds, ambient and environmental audio, and other field recordings from Artemis I, Artemis II, and related activities. LISTEN |
| Do You Know? |
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| Have you met “Rise,” Artemis II’s zero gravity indicator, or ZGI? This plush mascot, riding with the crew aboard the Orion spacecraft, floated on its tether after launch, giving a visual indication that they were in space. Designed by third-grader Lucas Ye, it was inspired by the “Earthrise” photo taken by an Apollo astronaut in 1968. |
| Who took the Earthrise photo that inspired the design for “Rise”? A. William A. Anders ‘B. Michael Collins C. James A. Lovell D. Harrison H. Schmitt |
| Find out the answer in next week’s NASA newsletter! |
 | Last week, we asked how many times a shuttle had flown in space before the space shuttle Columbia. The answer? Zero. On April 12, 1981, Columbia lifted off from Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center for STS‑1. It wasn’t just the first shuttle launch with astronauts aboard; it was the first spaceflight of any shuttle. Because the shuttle required astronauts to pilot its return to Earth, no shuttle had ever flown before STS‑1. |
 NASA’s Artemis II mission is sending four astronauts on an approximately 10-day journey around the Moon. Choosing a crew for missions to the Moon requires the right mix of skills and attributes. All four astronauts bring different strengths and expertise to the mission, and must also work well together in high-pressure situations. That’s why we want to know: who would you choose to go with you on a trip around the Moon? HOW TO PARTICIPATE |
NOTE: This is a NASA publication. Used with permission and modified to fit this web page.