NASA Artemis missions advance with successful lunar flyby and rocket assembly

NASA’s Artemis II mission has successfully completed a lunar flyby, marking the first time humans have traveled to the moon in 50 years. The crew, consisting of Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and CSA’s Jeremy Hansen, reached the moon on April 6, 2026. During the mission, the crew traveled 252,756 miles from Earth and captured extensive imagery of the lunar surface.

In preparation for the subsequent Artemis III mission, technicians at Kennedy Space Center have begun installing four RS-25 engines into the core stage of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. These engines, which previously powered various Space Shuttle missions, are being integrated alongside propulsion and electrical systems. Work also continues on the twin solid rocket booster motor segments and the Orion spacecraft to support the upcoming crewed lunar landing efforts.