NASA launches Artemis II to orbit Moon in Orion spacecraft
NASA just launched Artemis II from Florida on April 1, 2026, marking a big step in getting people back to the Moon.
This time, the four astronauts (Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen) won't land but will spend 10 days orbiting the Moon in Orion.
It's basically a test run before future missions actually touch down, with Artemis III aiming for a launch next year, and a landing no earlier than Artemis IV in 2028.
NASA $93 billion lunar bases plan
Artemis isn't just about going back to the Moon: it's about staying there.
With an estimated $93 billion total cost to date and help from companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin, NASA wants to build lunar bases and even set up a lunar-orbiting station.
The race is also heating up globally as both the US and China eye the resource-rich south pole of the Moon.
For NASA, this mission is about science.