NASA's historic Artemis II mission successfully launched on Wednesday afternoon, April 1, 2026, from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking humanity's first journey to the Moon in over 50 years.

This ten-day mission will see four astronauts—NASA's Reid Wiseman (commander), Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, alongside CSA's Jeremy Hansen—venture around the Moon and return, paving the way for future lunar landings and eventual human missions to Mars.

The launch, originally scheduled for 6:24 PM ET, officially lifted off at 6:35 PM ET after final system checks and a resolved battery sensor issue.

The Artemis II mission holds profound historical significance, being the furthest space exploration mission undertaken in human history, occurring 57 years after the Apollo 11 Moon landing in 1969.

It is the first time humans will have left Earth's orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972.

The core objective is not to land, but to test the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion crew capsule, orbiting the Moon to ensure all systems are ready for subsequent missions.

Leading up to the launch, engineers addressed critical safety concerns, including a problem with the Space Launch System rocket's flight termination system and a battery issue within the launch abort system.

NASA communications official Derrol Nail confirmed that the battery temperature issue, which threatened to delay the launch, was determined to be a faulty sensor, clearing the mission for its rescheduled liftoff.

With optimal weather conditions, the countdown resumed, and Commander Reid Wiseman declared "Full send" as he and his crewmates prepared for their journey.

Minutes after launch, the Artemis II spacecraft successfully crossed the boundary into space, with Commander Wiseman radioing to ground teams, "We have a beautiful moonrise.

NASA confirmed the main engine cutoff of the SLS core stage and its successful separation from the interim cryogenic propulsion stage and the Orion spacecraft, completing the first major propulsion phase of the mission.

The crew also captured their first views of Earth and the sun from the capsule window.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized the mission's role as a crucial "open act" and test run.

He outlined ambitious future plans, stating that Artemis II will set the stage for subsequent missions, including a moon rocket launch in 2027 for lander testing, and the Artemis IV mission targeting a lunar surface landing in 2028.

Isaacman also revealed plans to concurrently build a permanent moon base.

The mission is viewed as a vital step towards NASA's "next giant leap" to put astronauts on Mars.

Other notable aspects surrounding the launch included Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. praising the "real food" on the crew's menu, and Commander Reid Wiseman sharing a poignant photo with his daughters before boarding the spacecraft, reflecting on his pride.

A young boy's enthusiastic declaration, "We're going back to the freaking moon, that's why," captured the public's excitement for this monumental return to lunar exploration.