For the first time since 1972 NASA/America is sending astronauts to the Moon for a 10 day journey/flyby/orbit of the Moon for an eventual Moon landing in 2028.

From Google AI:

NASA currently aims to land astronauts on the moon as part of the Artemis IV mission in late 2028. Before that, the crewed Artemis II mission is scheduled to fly around the moon in April 2026, followed by testing of landing systems in 2027 to prepare for the eventual lunar landing.

Key Artemis Moon Landing Timeline:

Artemis II (April 2026): Crewed mission (Wiseman, Glover, Koch, Hansen) that will fly around the moon, but not land.

Artemis III (2027/2028): Aimed at testing lunar landers (SpaceX/Blue Origin) in orbit.

Artemis IV (Target 2028): Planned first human moon landing in over 50 years at the south pole.

Photo Credit to NASA.

So this mission is like Apollo 8.  

22 minutes ago, nkypete said:

So this mission is like Apollo 8.  

Yes, a lot like that, a test run for all the new systems including the number two machine. ?

First time ever!

The weather looks good @nWo!  From ABC News.

Missing the launch by 17 days.  I'm leaving on a cruise from Port Canaveral on 4/18.

Launch was excellent!

Keep track of updates directly from NASA.

https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/04/01/live-artemis-ii-launch-day-updates/

Photo Credit to NASA.

From a BGP Member watching the launch.

All indications are everything is going as planned.   I think I saw 10 hours in earth orbit before TLI.  Then off to the moon.

From Nikola Sagan on Facebook:

Photographer Brian Lail captured this remarkable moment of the Artemis II mission approximately two minutes after its 6:35 PM EDT liftoff on April 1, 2026. The image depicts the separation of the twin solid rocket boosters from the Space Launch System core stage at an altitude of roughly 30 miles over the Atlantic Ocean. Having provided over 7 million pounds of thrust to vault the Orion spacecraft off Launch Complex 39B, the boosters jettisoned successfully to allow the four RS-25 engines to continue the ascent into Earth orbit. This mission represents the first time humans have witnessed this separation sequence from within the capsule since the final Apollo mission in 1972, marking a critical milestone in the journey of the crew toward the lunar far side.

Source: NASA / Kennedy Space Center / Brian Lail Photography

2 minutes ago, theguru said:

From Nikola Sagan on Facebook:

Photographer Brian Lail captured this remarkable moment of the Artemis II mission approximately two minutes after its 6:35 PM EDT liftoff on April 1, 2026. The image depicts the separation of the twin solid rocket boosters from the Space Launch System core stage at an altitude of roughly 30 miles over the Atlantic Ocean. Having provided over 7 million pounds of thrust to vault the Orion spacecraft off Launch Complex 39B, the boosters jettisoned successfully to allow the four RS-25 engines to continue the ascent into Earth orbit. This mission represents the first time humans have witnessed this separation sequence from within the capsule since the final Apollo mission in 1972, marking a critical milestone in the journey of the crew toward the lunar far side.

Source: NASA / Kennedy Space Center / Brian Lail Photography

My initial thought when seeing that picture was "and the kick is good!"

10 minutes ago, nkypete said:

My initial thought when seeing that picture was "and the kick is good!"

Good one!

Our home, the pale blue dot, from Artemis II.   Photographic technology has come a long way since late 1968.  I definitely want to see what an image of their "Earth Rise" when the go around the moon.

Edited April 4Apr 4 by Tranquility Base