Orion swung around the far side of the Moon, coming within 100 kilometers of the surface. Breaking Records and New Science
Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen. Lunar Flight
While the world watched the breathtaking timelapses of the Moon captured from the cabin, the crew was hard at work. They tested critical life-support and navigation systems in the high-radiation environment of deep space. Orion swung around the far side of the
Return to the Stars: The Historic Success of Artemis II Humanity just took its most significant step back toward the lunar surface in over half a century. On April 10, 2026, the Orion spacecraft successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, concluding the Artemis II mission —the first crewed flight to the lunar vicinity since 1972. The Mission at a Glance They tested critical life-support and navigation systems in
The mission also carried unique "passengers"—thousands of Canadian tree seeds and advanced sensors to measure radiation exposure, ensuring future long-term lunar stays are safe for human health. What's Next?
Currently the earliest target for humans to actually step back onto the lunar surface.