2022
Test SLS rocket and Orion capsule
2026
First crewed flight
Flyby of the Moon
Scheduled for 2027
Test one or both landers in low Earth orbit
Scheduled for Early 2028
Land on the Moon
Conduct experiments
Scheduled for Late 2028
Land on the Moon
Conduct experiments
Begin construction of lunar base
To Be Determined
This cone-shaped capsule can seat up to four crew members and support missions up to 21 days. One major difference from Apollo: it uses solar arrays for power.
The rocket used to launch Artemis missions, it can be configured for the needs of a particular mission. This makes it more adaptable than the Saturn V rocket used in the Apollo missions.
These are not your parents’ spacesuits. The Orion Crew Survival System Suit (OCSSS) is a modern reinvention of a classic idea: a suit designed not for launch, entry, and emergencies in deep space.
Here’s where Orion’s suit really shines. In an emergency, astronauts could survive inside the suit for up to six days, enough time to return to Earth. The suit includes adaptable interfaces to supply oxygen and scrub out carbon dioxide, plus improved thermal regulation to prevent overheating. It is not merely a piece of clothing—it is a lifeboat.
Lighter, stronger, and in multiple sizes, it reduces noise and makes connecting to the communications system easier
More durable and even touch-screen compatible
Fire-resistant, better fitting, and designed for nimble movement in emergencies
It is now fire-resistant and includes a redesigned zipper makes putting on the suit faster and adds strength—which matters when seconds count.
Launch: April 1, 2026, 6:35 pm E.T.
Splashdown: April 10, 2026, 8:07 pm E.T.
This 10-day mission flew around the Moon.
Artemis II was the first crewed Artemis mission. It tested:
Commander
Since first travelling to space in 2014, Wiseman spent almost 13 hours spacewalking and conducted over 300 experiments. Before joining NASA, Wisemen spent 20 years as a naval aviator.
Pilot
Artemis II was Glover’s second trip to space. He first travelled to the International Space Station on the first post-certification flight SpaceX’s crew dragon spacecraft.
Glover was a military pilot for the U.S. Navy.
Mission Specialist
Artemis II was Koch’s second trip to space. On her first, she spent nearly 11 months in space and conducted 6 spacewalks.
Before becoming an astronaut, Koch worked as an engineer for NASA among other places, and researched in the Antarctic and remote islands.
Mission Specialist
Artemis II was Hansen’s first trip to space. Since becoming an astronaut, he’s worked in Mission Control and been a crewmember of NEEMO 19, living and working on the ocean floor for seven days to simulate deep-space exploration.
The crew travelled 252,760 miles from Earth. They passed the record set by Apollo 13 by 4,105 miles.
The crew announced they would like to name an unnamed crater that is a "bright spot on the Moon" Carroll. The name honors commander Reid Wiseman's late wife. She passed away of cancer in 2020.
Using cameras and extensive geology training, the crew identified and observe various geologic targets.
Much like Apollo 8, Artemis II tested spacecraft on a flight to the vicinity of the Moon in preparation for future missions.
One of the major differences between these missions is their flight path: Apollo 8 orbited the Moon whereas Artemis II was a flyby mission.
For its February 2026 launch window
It will give you goosebumps.
And the Museum played a part.
No, Artemis II will not land on the Moon. The astronauts will travel around it.
Emily A. Margolis, curator of contemporary spaceflight, breaks down the long countdown to Artemis II (and beyond) from the end of the Apollo program all the way to today.
When the Apollo 17 spacecraft carrying U.S. astronauts Gene Cernan, Harrison Schmitt, and Ron Evans returned to Earth on December 19, 1972, the Apollo lunar landing program came to its end. No human has set foot on the Moon’s surface since.
Dr. John M. Logsdon, the founder and former director of George Washington University's Space Policy Institute, answers this frequently asked question.
From a Q&A video just for kids, to making an astronaut helmet, these activities will help young learners better understand all the work that goes into spaceflight.
Hear from the history makers that make Artemis II possible in these short (2-4 min) and long (30-60 min) videos.
