Liftoff: Artemis II launches, sending astronauts around the moon.

Liftoff.

The Artemis II mission launched from @NASAKennedy at 6:35pm ET (2235 UTC), propelling four astronauts on a journey around the Moon.

Artemis II will pave the way for future Moon landings, as well as the next giant leap — astronauts on Mars. pic.twitter.com/ENQA4RTqAc

— NASA (@NASA) April 1, 2026

This animation shows NASA’s Artemis II mission path, a journey of nearly 685,000 miles. The crew will travel in a figure-eight trajectory, looping out from Earth, around the Moon, and back again.

Follow live updates: https://t.co/PikF0FNlO9 pic.twitter.com/tnrahDMaGu

— ABC News (@ABC) April 1, 2026

For the first time in half a century, astronauts are going back to the Moon. Well, almost back there. For NASA’s Artemis II mission will not land. Discover how it could pave the way for the space agency’s future plans https://t.co/iRjit39sbl pic.twitter.com/4nAcI8idaL

— The Economist (@TheEconomist) April 1, 2026