NASA's Artemis II crew readies for Monday's lunar flyby. Here's what you need to know
At its closest point, the crew of Artemis II will loop about 4,000 miles from the lunar surface late Monday.
Summary
The Artemis II crew will conduct a lunar flyby on Monday, achieving a closest approach of approximately 4,000 miles from the Moon's surface. This mission represents a significant advancement in human space exploration.
As the first crewed mission in the Artemis program, Artemis II will extend human presence beyond low Earth orbit, marking a pivotal moment in NASA's lunar exploration strategy.
The mission's architecture is designed to test systems and capabilities necessary for future lunar landings, ultimately supporting long-term human presence on the Moon.
Key Facts
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Primary source | NPR News |
| Source count | 2 |
| First published | 2026-04-06T05:09:29.000Z |
Updates
Update at 19:46 UTC on 2026-04-06
NASA News reported Editor’s note: This release was updated at 7:28 p.m. EDT on April 6, 2026, to reflect Orion’s final closest approach to the lunar surface from about 4,070 miles to about 4,067 miles. NASA also updated the farthest distan.
Sources: NASA News