NASA's Artemis II underway, Orion orbiting 43,000-plus miles above Earth

Technology Apr 02, 2026

NASA's Artemis II mission is officially underway!
The Orion spacecraft launched and is now orbiting Earth at more than 69202km above Earth.
Right now, the crew is making sure life support and communication systems are being checked before heading further out.

Pacific splashdown planned April 10 2026

After these checks, Orion will spend three days traveling into the Moon's gravity zone.
Roughly five days after launch, it will get just 6598km above the surface and giving astronauts a shot at exploring never-before-seen areas on the far side.
The coolest part? Orion uses the Moon's gravity to follow a free-return trajectory back home.
If all goes to plan, splashdown in the Pacific happens April 10, 2026, making this NASA's longest human space trip since Apollo 13!