While I was leading a tour of the National Air and Space Museum in January 2026, a visitor posed this insightful question: “Why has it taken so long to return to the Moon?” After all, NASA had the know-how and technology to send humans to the lunar surface more than 50 years ago as part of the Apollo program.

NASA is set to launch the Artemis II mission, sending four astronauts on a trip around the moon. The first time they did this, it changed the world.

The two-hour launch window begins at 6:24 p.m. on Wednesday.

NASA said Friday it’s revamping its Artemis moon exploration program to make it more like the fast-paced Apollo program half a century ago, adding an extra practice flight before attempting a high-risk lunar landing with a crew in two years. The overhaul ...

Nasa's Artemis II mission has taken off and the spacecraft is now in orbit around the Earth before heading to the Moon and possibly travelling further from Earth than anyone has ever been before. Find out more here.

April 2, 2026 Get more news © 2026 NBCUniversal Media, LLC

Track the progress of the Artemis II mission with the latest updates and news from the historic mission to the moon's orbit.