Have you ever looked up at the Moon and wondered what it would be like to actually fly around it? Well, four brave astronauts are doing exactly that right now!
After more than 50 years of waiting, humans are finally back in deep space. NASA’s historic Artemis II mission blasted off from Florida on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. It was a perfect launch, lighting up the night sky as the Orion spacecraft began its 10-day journey.
📍 Where are they now?
As of today, April 5, the crew is halfway to the Moon! They are traveling thousands of miles per hour through the dark, cold vacuum of space.
Mark your calendars for these big moments:
The Lunar Flyby:
Tomorrow, Monday, April 6! They will swing around the far side of the Moon.
The Big Splash: Friday, April 10. The capsule will drop into the Pacific Ocean near San Diego to come home.
👨🚀 Meet the Space Heroes
This isn't just any crew; they are making history with every mile they fly:
Reid Wiseman (Commander): The leader of the pack.
Victor Glover (Pilot): The first person of color to ever go to the Moon!
Christina Koch: The first woman to head toward the Moon!
Jeremy Hansen: A Canadian astronaut and the first non-American to leave Earth’s orbit!
🗺️ What’s Next for Artemis?
This mission is like a "practice run" to make sure everything is safe for the next big steps. NASA has a plan to get us back on the lunar surface soon:
Artemis III (2027): Testing how to park and dock in space.
Artemis IV (2028): The moment we’ve been waiting for the first crewed landing since 1972!
Artemis V (2028): Starting to build a real "Moon Base." Imagine living there!
🛰️ Watch it Live!
You don’t have to just read about it. You can actually see where the spacecraft is in real-time! Check out the Artemis Real-time Orbit Website to see how far they are from Earth.
💬 What do YOU think?
If you were stuck in a tiny spaceship for 10 days with three other people, what is the one thing you would bring with you to stay entertained?
Tell us in the comments below! We want to hear your "space-traveler" ideas! 🌌👇