NASA astronauts have launched on a historic journey to the moon

NPR | By Nell Greenfieldboyce

Published April 2, 2026 at 4:41 AM EDT

NASA's long-awaited Artemis II mission launched Wednesday with four astronauts on board. Their capsule is orbiting Earth, and if everything checks out, NASA will send them off toward the moon.

Nell Greenfieldboyce

Nell Greenfieldboyce is a NPR science correspondent.

See stories by Nell Greenfieldboyce

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