NASA launches Artemis II sending Koch and Glover around Moon
Technology
NASA just launched Artemis II on April 2, 2026, sending the first woman (Christina Koch) and first person of color (Victor Glover) on a trip around the Moon.
It's the first time humans have gone beyond low Earth orbit since 1972, moving past Apollo's all-male crews and making space history feel a lot more inclusive.
Mission tests Orion spacecraft systems
Alongside Koch and Glover are Commander Reid Wiseman and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
While they won't land this time, their mission is key for testing Orion spacecraft systems during a lunar flyby.
It sets up future Artemis missions that aim to put people back on the Moon, especially at its south pole, and shows NASA is serious about making space exploration more diverse and sustainable.