NASA Launches 4 Astronauts on First Moon Trip Since 1972

For the first time in more than half a century, humans are leaving Earth's orbit and heading to the moon.

NASA officially started the countdown Monday for its Artemis II mission, targeting a Wednesday evening launch that will send four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the moon. Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen will make history as the first crew to venture beyond Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972.

"Everything continues to look good, and there are no issues preventing us from pressing ahead," said Amit Kshatriya, NASA's associate administrator, at Monday's press conference. The countdown clock began ticking at 4:44 p.m. Eastern time, with liftoff scheduled for approximately 6:30 p.m. on April 1.

The mission could break distance records too. Depending on the exact flight path, the crew might travel farther from Earth than any human has before, and they may see more of the moon's mysterious far side than anyone in history.

The massive 212-foot Space Launch System rocket will carry the astronauts in the Orion crew capsule on a trajectory that tests critical technologies for future missions. NASA plans to use what they learn to build a permanently staffed lunar base, with uncrewed lunar landers potentially testing as soon as next year.

The crew will board Orion about four hours before launch, but until then they're spending time with families and completing final briefings. Mission control expects splashdown in the evening of April 10 if everything goes according to plan.

Why This Inspires

This mission represents decades of preparation coming together. NASA officials emphasized that 25 years of experience operating the International Space Station gave them the confidence and knowledge to safely send humans back to deep space.

The Artemis II crew is also making their own kind of history: Victor Glover will be the first person of color to leave Earth orbit, and Christina Koch will be the first woman to do so. Their journey opens the door for a new generation of space exploration.

If weather or technical issues cause delays, NASA has backup launch windows ready from April 2 through April 6. But right now, all systems are showing green lights for humanity's return to the moon.

After 50 years of staying close to home, we're finally heading back out into the cosmos.