Artemis II launches — first crew beyond low Earth orbit since 1972
SLS lifted off from Launch Complex 39B at 6:35 p.m. EDT carrying Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen. A single translunar injection burn placed Orion on a true free-return trajectory around the Moon.
Observed — measured or witnessed, with the observation cited.
Subjects
- Artemis II · mission · not located
- Space Launch System (SLS) · launch vehicle · not located
- Orion (Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle) · spacecraft · not located
- Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B · launch site · United States
Evidence
Verified — Every field is supported by a cited authoritative source.
Liftoff! NASA Launches Astronauts on Historic Artemis Moon Mission
Records the Artemis II launch at 6:35 p.m. EDT on 1 April 2026 from Launch Pad 39B, the crew of Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, and the free-return circumlunar profile.
NASA · 2026-04-01 · Verified
nasa.gov news release, 1 April 2026
Recorded on Artemis II
- Artemis I launches uncrewed from Launch Complex 39B
- Artemis I splashes down after 25 days
- NASA concludes the Orion heat shield investigation
- Artemis II launches — first crew beyond low Earth orbit since 1972
- Artemis II rounds the lunar far side and breaks the Apollo 13 distance record
- Artemis II splashes down off San Diego
- Artemis III crewed low Earth orbit demonstration (planned)
- Artemis IV first crewed lunar south pole landing (planned)
Related
Related because they share a subject in the Atlas — never because the text looks similar.
- Artemis II splashes down off San Diego · 2026-04-10 20:07 EDT
- Artemis II rounds the lunar far side and breaks the Apollo 13 distance record · 2026-04-06
- NASA concludes the Orion heat shield investigation · 2024-12-05
- Artemis III crewed low Earth orbit demonstration (planned) · planned — NASA target 2027
- Artemis IV first crewed lunar south pole landing (planned) · planned — no earlier than 2028
- Artemis I splashes down after 25 days · 2022-12-11
- Artemis I launches uncrewed from Launch Complex 39B · 2022-11-16 11:47 UTC