Artemis II launch successful; lunar flyby on April 6

Launch occurred April 1 at 18:35 US Eastern Time (April 2 07:35 Japan time) from Kennedy Space Center on an SLS carrying the Orion spacecraft.

The mission is planned for about 10 days to reach the Moon's gravity sphere and return; a lunar flyby is scheduled April 6 (US time) with observations and imaging planned.

Orion carries four astronauts and will perform an initial demonstration of crewed life‑support systems.

The vehicle is currently in Earth orbit continuing the mission, conducting ICPS manual approach/docking training for future Lunar Gateway scenarios; upcoming tests include high Earth orbit checks and the release of four CubeSats before translunar injection.

Return is expected around April 10 (US time) with splashdown in the Pacific; NASA will livestream Orion throughout the roughly 10‑day mission.