The Artemis ll launched on a 10 day mission around the Moon on April 1, 2026 in the first crewed flight of NASA’s Orion spacecraft. The astronauts on board were Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch from NASA and Jeremy Hansen from CSA (Canadian Space Agency). The crew has officially been the farthest away from earth any human has ever been. The crew even had their own little mascot named “Rise”
Let’s look at some of the biggest highlights of the mission:
Passengers aboard a delta flight were able to see the rocket piercing through the atmosphere.
This is the first picture of the earth taken in 50 years. Astronaut Glover reflected on the view of the earth and shared the wholesome quote: “Trust us. You look amazing. You look beautiful. No matter where you’re from or, you know, what you look like. We’re all one people.”
Especially inspiring was a picture of Christina Koch where you could see her braid, while she was looking at our home planet. For millions of women and girls this picture was a symbol for something bigger, to see themselves reflected in space, connected all over the world through the art of braiding. Koch is now the first woman to fly around the moon, and Victor Glover the first Black astronaut on a lunar mission.
NASA revealed custom wake-up songs, for the astronauts chosen by either them or their family.
NASA put the playlist up on Spotify.
“Sleepyhead” – Young & Sick
“Green Light” – John Legend ft. Andre 3000
“In a Daydream” – Freddy Jones Band
“Pink Pony Club” – Chappell Roan ( people were mad because NASA cut it before the chorus )
“Working Class Heroes” – CeeLo Green
“Good Morning” – Mandisa & TobyMac
“Tokyo Drifting” – Glass Animals & Denzel Curry
“Under Pressure” – Queen & David Bowie
“Lonesome Drifter” – Charley Crockett
“Run to the Water” – Live
During the Artemis ll mission the crew named a lunar crater after commander Reid Wiseman’s late wife, Caroll, who died from cancer. This moment was all over social media, Hansen called it “a bright spot” and the crew hugged each other in zero gravity.
Artemis ll was the first human deep space mission in over 50 years and also the first to be really present on online platforms. The crew tested the Orion capsule’s systems and observed the far side of the Moon, before returning home and splashing down in the Pacific Ocean on April 10.
The mission revived the Apollo era’s interest in the earth satellite. NASA reported: “The Artemis II test flight successfully began a new era of exploration, laying the groundwork for the third Artemis mission next year, lunar surface missions, a Moon base, and future missions to Mars.”
The mission was inspiring to many, sophomore Michelle Bernuy-Bates said “It was the most inspiring thing I have ever seen in my life, when there’s another artemis mission I hope I’m gonna be on the space ship.” Artemis II inspired her to work hard in school and become involved in NASA.
