How many astronauts flew on NASA's Artemis II mission around the Moon in April 2026?

NASA's Artemis II mission, a pivotal step in humanity's return to the Moon, will carry a crew of four astronauts around our celestial neighbor. This historic flight marks the first time humans will venture beyond low Earth orbit since the Apollo program concluded in 1972, serving as a crucial test for the Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System (SLS) with a crew on board. The approximately ten-day mission aims to thoroughly evaluate the spacecraft's life support systems, navigation, and communications in the deep space environment, ensuring everything is ready for future lunar landings.

The diverse crew for Artemis II includes NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. Each member brings unique experience, and their journey will set several precedents. Victor Glover will become the first person of color to travel around the Moon, Christina Koch the first woman, and Jeremy Hansen the first non-American to leave Earth orbit, making this mission a significant milestone for international collaboration and inclusivity in space exploration.

Artemis II is a stepping stone for the broader Artemis program, which seeks to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon and ultimately pave the way for human missions to Mars. By testing the capabilities of the Orion spacecraft and its crew in lunar orbit, this mission is vital for gathering the data and experience necessary for future missions that will land astronauts on the lunar surface and expand our understanding of the cosmos.