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NASA’s Artemis II mission achieved a major milestone on April 6, 2026, as four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft successfully completed a lunar flyby, venturing farther from Earth than any humans in history and marking the first crewed journey beyond low Earth orbit since the Apollo era.

The Artemis II crew: NASA astronauts Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialist Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, launched atop the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39B on April 1, 2026, at 6:35 p.m. EDT. The approximately 10-day test flight is the first crewed flight of the SLS and Orion spacecraft, designed to validate systems for future deep-space exploration, including long-term lunar presence and eventual Mars missions.

On April 6, the Orion spacecraft, named Integrity by the crew, executed a precise flyby of the Moon, passing approximately 4,070 miles (6,550 km) from the lunar surface at closest approach and traveling behind the far side, resulting in a roughly 40-minute communications blackout with Earth. During the closest approach and subsequent observations, the astronauts captured stunning images and conducted scientific activities, including lunar observations of both the near and far sides.

At 1:56 p.m. EDT on April 6, the crew surpassed the Apollo 13 record of 248,655 miles from Earth, eventually reaching a maximum distance of about 252,756 miles. This set a new record for the farthest human spaceflight. The mission also included the first person of color (Glover), first woman (Koch), and first non-U.S. citizen (Hansen) to travel beyond low Earth orbit.

Stunning photos of the Moon & Earth by NASA Artemis II Astronauts https://t.co/qxu5crlLUO pic.twitter.com/SE29VCUHVF

— Evelyn Janeidy (@JaneidyEve) April 7, 2026

The astronauts have performed manual and automated Orion spacecraft operations, tested life support, propulsion, navigation, and thermal control systems in the deep-space environment, and conducted human health experiments. They also proposed naming lunar craters, including one in honor of Commander Wiseman’s late wife, Carroll.

After making the lunar approach, the crew was congratulated by President Donald Trump. They shared their emotions and observations of the Moon during a live broadcast, watch the video linked below.

As of April 7, the crew is on the return journey, enjoying off-duty time after the intense flyby phase. All systems are reported nominal during daily NASA briefings. Splashdown is scheduled for approximately 8:07 p.m. EDT on April 10, 2026, off the coast of San Diego, California, with recovery by teams aboard the USS John P. Murtha ship.

Artemis II serves as a critical uncrewed-to-crewed stepping stone following the successful Artemis I test in 2022. It paves the way for Artemis III, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface, including the first woman alongside a man. International partners, including Canada, have played key roles, underscoring collaborative efforts in space exploration.

NASA continues to provide real-time updates and live views via mission tracking tools, allowing the public to follow the spacecraft’s progress. The mission underscores renewed U.S. leadership in human spaceflight and the next chapter of lunar exploration.

LIVE: Watch with us as the Artemis II astronauts make their closest approach to the Moon, traveling farther from Earth than ever before. https://t.co/Zpy7GdTqA8

— NASA (@NASA) April 6, 2026

As communities gather this weekend, @AstroVicGlover reflects on the shared spaceship we all call home: Earth. pic.twitter.com/GpwdeovpCR

— NASA (@NASA) April 5, 2026

Author’s note: Thanks for reading Cosmic Chronicles. Write your thoughts in the comment section below. If you have story suggestions or feedback, Direct Message me on social media 𝕏: Evelyn Janeidy Arevalo @JaneidyEve. Read the most recent stories featured below. Thank You.