NASA successfully launched four astronauts aboard the Artemis II mission on April 1, 2026, marking the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years. The crew aboard the Orion spacecraft, launched by NASA's Space Launch System rocket, will conduct a 10-day test mission around the Moon, including a lunar flyby on April 6 where astronauts will photograph and observe the Moon's far side. The mission will test life support systems and spacecraft handling capabilities with crew for the first time. This represents a critical milestone in NASA's broader Artemis program to establish a permanent lunar presence and eventually reach Mars.