Artemis II Ascends

Kennedy Space Center, FL. – Liftoff!! On the evening of April 1, 2026, history roared to life with the launch of the Artemis II launch. Delayed by just a few minutes at the opening of the window, the SLS rocket engines lit lofting the Orion capsule named “Integrity” with her four person crew are one step closer to the Moon.

Lift off came at 6:35 PM EDT from Launch Complex 39-B. Delayed after a previous Wet Dress Rehearsal and a trip back to the VAB for repairs, today’s countdown went about as perfect as it might have been. A couple of technical issues did take place during the countdown, but launch managers concluded they were still okay to continue towards a T-Zero and the launch of Artemis II.

Image Credit:  Michael Howard - We Report Space

A few days ago on March 27, 2026 the Artemis II astronauts arrived at Launch and Landing Facility of the Kennedy Space Center ahead of their highly anticipated and historical launch to the Moon. The crew arrived at about 2:15 PM EDT greeting the media as well as family and officials before going into quarantine.

Artemis II astronauts are: CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, and NASA astronauts Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Reid Wiseman are now taking the Orion capsule “Integrity” for a ten day journey to make an orbit of the Moon and return.

"Integrity" Crew with "Rise"  Image Credit:  Michael Howard - We Report Space

One of the special items that is aboard Orion with the crew is a small stuffed toy named “Rise” that will be released and let everyone know that they have achieved Zero-G and are now in space and one moment closer to leaving Earth orbit and heading to the Moon. “Rise” won the competition of designs and depicts the Apollo 8 Earthrise image made famous during that mission.

In a statement from NASA:

 “Artemis II is a test flight, and the test has just begun. The team that built this vehicle, repaired it, and prepared it for flight has given our crew the machine they need to go prove what it can do,” said NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya. “Over the next 10 days, Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy will put Orion through its paces so the crews who follow them can go to the Moon’s surface with confidence. We are one mission into a long campaign, and the work ahead of us is greater than the work behind us.”

 NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman - Image Credit: Michael Seeley - We Report Space

In a continued statement from NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman:

“Artemis II is the start of something bigger than any one mission. It marks our return to the Moon, not just to visit, but to eventually stay on our Moon Base, and lays the foundation for the next giant leaps ahead.”

Taking it all in.... Image Credit: Michael Howard - We Report Space

This is the first time since the final Apollo mission in the 1970’s that human’s will not only leave low Earth orbit, but the first time humans will have traveled back to our neighbor the Moon since departure of Apollo 17 in December of 1972 over half a century ago. In 2029 we will mark 60 years since the first humans walked on the lunar surface in1969 when Apollo 11 and her crew made history as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were the first humans to walk on the lunar soil leaving behind those historic foot prints.

After the flyby of the Moon, Orion will head back towards Earth for a planned splashdown off the coast of California.

The Moon shines bright in our night sky and now we are returning.

Story By: Michael Howard – We Report Space

Images by: Michael Howard, Michael Seeley and Graham Smith –

We Report Space

Image Credit:  Michael Seeley - We Report Space