In Pictures | Artemis II’s voyage to the moon and back

NASA’s Artemis II mission sent four astronauts — three Americans and one Canadian — on the first lunar flyby in more than 50 years. Seen here, astronauts, front row from left, Pilot Victor Glover and Commander Reid Wiseman, second row from left, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, of Canada,, and Mission Specialist Christina Koch leave the Operations and Checkout Building for a trip to Launch Pad 39-B and a planned liftoff on NASA’s Artemis II moon rocket at the Kennedy Space Center on April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Florida

The journey of Christina Koch, Victor Glover, Jeremy Hansen and Reid Weisman around the Moon was rich in firsts, records and extraordinary moments. The first woman (Koch), the first person of color (Glover) and the first non-American (Hansen) were members of the crew on the historic voyage around the Moon. Until now, only white American men had been selected for these missions, which occurred during NASA’s Apollo program of the 1960s and 70s.
Seen from left, Mission Spc. Jeremy Hansen, of Canada, Mission Spc. Christina Koch, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Pilot Victor Glover pose for a photo after the crew’s arrival at the Kennedy Space Center on March 27, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Florida

This NASA handout image shows NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Artemis II commander (L), Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot (2L), Christina Koch, Artemis II mission specialist (2R), and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II mission specialist (R), as they stop for a group photo during a visit to NASA’s Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft, on March 30, 2026, at Launch Complex 39B of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo: AFP PHOTO / NASA / Bill INGALLS

The Artemis II journey was the first crewed mission of NASA’s program aiming to install a sustained presence on the Moon, including the eventual construction of a base. Seen on April 1, 2026, NASA’s Artemis II mission to fly by the moon, comprising of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion crew capsule, lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S.

From a profusion of rocket-launch watch parties and special classroom lessons on space, to a ​surge in planetarium visits and a retail boon in NASA- and Artemis-themed apparel, signs abound of public fascination with the ⁠four astronauts who flew to the far side of the moon. Spectators look on from the A. Max Brewer Bridge as NASA’s Artemis II moon rocket lifts off on April 1, 2026, as seen from Titusville, Florida

The 10-day mission, is a key dress rehearsal for a planned attempt later this decade to land astronauts on the moon for the first time since Apollo 17 in late 1972. NASA’s Artemis II mission, comprising of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion crew capsule, seen lifting off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S., on April 1, 2026.

Unlike the Apollo ​era, when the United States was racing to land astronauts on the moon ahead of the Soviet Union, the Artemis program is seeking to beat China. This photo provided by NASA shows the exterior of the Orion spacecraft Integrity during the Artemis II mission en route to the moon on April 3, 2026. Photo: NASA via AP

For many in a global audience captivated by the latest moon shot, ⁠it reaffirmed the achievements of science and technology at a time when big tech has become widely distrusted, even feared. Opinion polling showed broad ⁠public support for the aims of the mission.
A view of the Moon taken by an Artemis II crew member through the window of the Orion spacecraft on day five of the mission, April 6, 2026. Photo: NASA/Handout via Reuters

In this photo provided by NASA, an Artemis program patch floating in the International Space Station’s cupola, on March 30, 2026. Photo: NASA via AP

The voyage of four astronauts to the far side of the moon gave ​the world a glimpse of America at its best, offering a respite from global despair and displeasure over U.S-led conflict, tariffs, and crumbling global institutions.
In this image posted on April 4, 2026, Artemis II astronauts work inside their spacecraft as they continue their journey and prepare for a lunar flyby around the far side of the Moon, in this image released by NASA. Photo: NASA via PTI Photo

Through ‌a carefully curated flow of high-quality photos, GoPro videos and other footage from NASA, the three American ​and one Canadian astronauts provided real-time documentation of NASA’s 10-day Artemis II mission.
NASA astronaut and Artemis II mission specialist Christina Koch seen peering out of one of the Orion spacecraft’s main cabin windows, looking back at Earth, as the crew travels towards the Moon April 2, 2026. Photo: NASA/Handout via Reuters

NASA Artemis II mission specialist and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen enjoys a shave inside the Orion spacecraft during Flight Day 5 and ahead of the crew’s lunar flyby on April 6, 2026. Photo: NASA/Handout via Reuters

The world watched, commented and hit the “like” button as the astronauts traveled the furthest distance ever from Earth in the Orion spacecraft, a capsule only ​slightly larger than an SUV. A view of Earth taken by NASA astronaut and Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman from one of the Orion spacecraft’s window after completing the translunar injection burn on April 2, 2026. The image features two auroras (top right and bottom left) and zodiacal light (bottom right) is visible as the Earth eclipses the Sun. Photo: NASA/Handout via Reuters

The Artemis II astronauts took a poignant page from Apollo 8, proposing deeply personal names for a pair of lunar craters. Commander Reid Wiseman and his crew asked permission to name one small, fresh crater after their capsule called Integrity and another after his late wife, Carroll. Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen made the request right before the lunar fly-around. Mr. Wiseman was too emotional to talk. Carroll Wiseman, a neonatal nurse, died of cancer in 2020.
This screengrab from a NASA livestream shows Artemis II crew members Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, Jeremy Hansen and Christina Koch embracing aboard the Orion spacecraft after naming a lunar crater “Carroll” in honor of Wiseman’s late wife, on April 6, 2026. Photo: Handout / NASA / AFP

This screengrab from a NASA livestream shows a jar of Nutella floating aboard the Orion spacecraft as Artemis II crew members Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, Jeremy Hansen and Christina Koch work on April 6, 2026. Photo: Handout / NASA / AFP

A view of the Moon as the Artemis II mission’s Orion spacecraft approaches to reach its furthest distance from Earth, in this screengrab taken from a livestream video on April 6, 2026. Photo: NASA/Handout via Reuters

The Artemis II team broke the distance record set by the 1970 Apollo 13 mission, which they surpassed by more than 4,000 miles (more than 6,000 kilometers) when they reached the journey’s furthest distance from Earth 252,756 miles (406,771 kilometers). The crew of the Artemis II mission’s Orion capsule, seen after the spacecraft had reached its farthest distance from the planet when it travelled around the Moon, in this screengrab taken from a livestream video on April 6, 2026. Photo: NASA /Handout via Reuters

In this image provided by NASA, the Artemis II crew captured this image of the Vavilov Crater on the Moon during a lunar flyby, on April 6, 2026. Photo: NASA via AP

In this image provided by NASA, the Artemis II crew captured this view as the Earth sets behind the Moon during a lunar flyby, Monday, April 6, 2026. The image was a deliberate nod to the iconic Earthrise image taken during the Apollo 8 mission in 1968, a shot that helped capture the public’s imagination as humans traveled around the Moon for the first time. The modern version released by NASA and the White House pairs the delicate, watery planet Earth with the harsh curve of the Moon, separated by black space.
Photo: NASA via AP

Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut and Artemis II Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen takes photographs using a camera shroud covering window 2 of the Orion spacecraft during the Artemis II crew’s flyby of the Moon on April 6, 2026. Photo: NASA/Handout via Reuters

The crew reported back to NASA in vivid detail features of the lunar surface and later witnessed a solar eclipse, when the Moon passed in front of the Sun. In this image posted on April 7, 2026, This image released by NASA shows a solar eclipse as seen from lunar orbit during the Artemis II mission. Photo: NASA via PTI Photo

In this image provided by NASA, the Artemis II crew, counterclockwise from top left, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Pilot Victor Glover pose with eclipse viewers during a lunar flyby, on April 6, 2026. Photo: NASA via AP

The crew also described flashes of light — meteor strikes — on the Moon’s surface. “Humans probably have not evolved to see what we’re seeing,” said Victor Glover. “It is truly hard to describe. It is amazing.”
Seen here, a portion of the Moon backlit by the Sun during a solar eclipse as the planet Venus shows as a bright silver glint at left, during the Artemis II crew’s flyby of the Moon on April 7, 2026. Photo: NASA/Handout via Reuters

In this image provided by NASA, the Artemis II crew, clockwise from left, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Pilot Victor Glover, pause for a group photo inside the Orion spacecraft on their way home on April 7, 2026. Photo: NASA via AP

During their historic lunar flyby, astronauts on NASA’s Artemis II mission witnessed meteorites striking the rugged surface of the Moon, a sight that has piqued scientists’ curiosity. “That was definitely impact flashes on the moon. And Jeremy [Hansen] just saw another one,” mission commander Reid Wiseman reportedwhile flying around the Moon. A view of Earth, partially hidden behind the Moon, captured through the Orion spacecraft window at 6:41 p.m. EDT (22:41 GMT) on April 6, 2026. Photo: NASA/Handout via Reuters

The NASA Artemis II crew, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Pilot Victor Glover, embrace inside the Orion spacecraft on their way home following a flyby of the far side of the Moon on April 7, 2026. Photo: NASA/Handout via Reuters

In this image provided by NASA, the Artemis II crew photographed a faint view of a crescent Earth above the horizon on the Moon’s far side on April 6, 2026. Photo: NASA via AP

In this image provided by NASA, Artemis II Pilot Victor Glover is photographed in the Orion spacecraft during the Artemis II lunar flyby on on April 6, 2026. Photo: NASA via AP

The return to Earth put the Orion spacecraft through a critical test of its heat shield, which sustained an unexpected level of scorching and stress on re-entry during its 2022 test flight. As a ‌result, NASA engineers altered the descent trajectory for Artemis II in order to reduce heat buildup and lower the risk of the capsule burning up.
In this image from video provided by NASA, the Artemis II Orion capsule, right, separates from the service module above the Earth in preparation for splash down in the Pacific Ocean, on April 10, 2026. Photo: NASA via AP

Later on April 10, 2026, the Artemis II capsule ​and its four-member crew streaked through Earth’s atmosphere and safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean. NASA’s gumdrop-shaped Orion ​capsule, dubbed Integrity, parachuted gently into the sea off the Southern California coast shortly after 5 p.m. PT, concluding ⁠a mission that took the astronauts deeper into space than anyone had flown before. Photo: NASA/Handout via Reuters