Politics & Government

Artemis II Launches Astronauts Toward Moon: See Photos

NASA's Artemis II rocket took off Wednesday for the first lunar mission in nearly 50 years. See photos of the launch.

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NASA's Artemis II moon rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-B Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
NASA's Artemis II moon rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-B Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

MIAMI, FL — Four NASA astronauts took off Wednesday in a flight around the moon for the first time in nearly 50 years, Wednesday. The lunar fly around is humanity's first mission in order to reach the possibility of a moon landing in the next two years.

The 32-story Artemis II rocket is carrying three Americans and one Canadian. Commander Reid Wiseman is overseeing the team’s flight with pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canada's Jeremy Hansen. Tens of thousands of spectators gathered around NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to witness the dawn of a new era in space.

Artemis II took off from the same Florida launch site as the Apollo rockets did decades ago. The spacecraft will orbit Earth for about 24 hours before heading to the moon. From there the flight crew will practice their manual steering and aim to fly past the moon over the course of ten days.

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See photos below of the Artemis II rocket launch.

Astronauts, from left, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, of Canada,, Pilot Victor Glover, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Mission Specialist Christina Koch pose for a photo after leaving the Operations and Checkout Building for a trip to Launch Pad 39-B and a planned liftoff on NASA's Artemis II moon rocket. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Artemis II pilot Victor Glover talks with loved ones during the walk out on the way to Launch Complex 39B for their mission to the Moon. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/TNS via ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock)
From left, Artemis II mission specialist Jeremy Hansen, pilot Victor GLover, mission specialist Christina Koch and commander Reid Wiseman walk out on the way to Launch Complex 39B for their mission to the moon. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/TNS via ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock)
A NASA Space Launch System (SLS) with the Orion spacecraft carrying the Artemis II astronauts lifts off from Launch Complex 39B. (Jennifer Briggs/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock)
The rocket takes off from its base. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Birds fly by as the rocket ascends. (Joel Kowsky - NASA via CNP/Shutterstock)
The rocket rushes past the flag pole with the Artemis logo and American flag. (Jennifer Briggs/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock)
The moon rocket lifts off into the sky. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
The rocket begins to disappear in the sky. (Mauricio Paiz/NurPhoto/Shutterstock)
Smoke is left on the horizon after take off. (Mauricio Paiz/NurPhoto/Shutterstock)
The Artemis II mission Space Launch System solid rocket boosters carrying the manned Orion Integrity capsule separate from the main rocket down range after blasting off from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. The crew of three NASA astronauts and one Canadian Space Agency astronaut will circle in the moon on their 10-day mission, which will be the first lunar trip in over 50 years. (Pat Benic/UPI/Shutterstock)
Spectators look on from the A. Max Brewer Bridge. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

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