Artemis II Astronauts Toasted as They Approach Historic Lunar Flyaround

Sat Apr 04 2026 16:30:02 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

NASA's Artemis II mission, featuring the first crewed lunar journey in over 50 years, progresses towards a monumental flyaround of the moon, with Canada celebrating its contribution.

The Artemis II astronauts, including three Americans and one Canadian, are set to make history by flying around the moon next week. As they prepare for their journey, Canada commemorates astronaut Jeremy Hansen's role in this groundbreaking mission, marking a significant step for global space exploration. The team aims to set a distance record while providing new insights into the lunar landscape. Their nearly 10-day mission will pave the way for future moon explorations.

The Artemis II astronauts were celebrated by Canada as they approach the halfway mark to the moon, preparing for a groundbreaking lunar fly-around that aims to venture deeper into space than the Apollo missions. The crew of three Americans and one Canadian will reach their destination on Monday, capturing stunning images of the moon's far side during their historic flight.

This mission marks the first crewed lunar endeavor in over 53 years, continuing the legacy of NASA’s Apollo program. The Artemis II mission is expected to set a human distance record, traveling approximately 252,000 miles (400,000 kilometers) from Earth before making a U-turn behind the moon and returning home.

The Canadian Space Agency expressed pride in astronaut Jeremy Hansen's involvement, as he becomes the first non-U.S. citizen to journey to the moon. In a live connection, Hansen shared his excitement about the extraordinary views from NASA's Orion capsule.

Accompanying Hansen are fellow astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch — the first female and first Black astronauts to set foot near the moon. Their mission will last nearly 10 days, culminating in a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on April 10, as a crucial step towards NASA's goal of establishing a sustainable moon base and planning for a lunar landing in 2028.