View gallery Image Credit: NASA via Getty Images NASA's Artemis II mission is making history as the agency's first crewed journey around the Moon in more than 50 years. After launching on April 1, 2026, the four-person crew successfully completed a lunar flyby, offering rare views of the Moon and deep space from aboard the Orion spacecraft. Now nearing the end of its mission, Artemis II is preparing for its return to Earth, with splashdown expected after roughly 10 days in space.