Artemis II astronauts embark on historic NASA mission as the full moon glows, in photos
Four astronauts took off on a flight around the moon in what is humanity’s first lunar voyage in more than half a century.
Employees of the Canadian Space Agency react during the successful launch of the Artemis II moon mission, at the Canadian Space Agency, in Longueuil, Quebec, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
NASA's Artemis II moon rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-B Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
In this photo provided by NASA, guests watch the launch of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II mission to the moon at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)
A bird flies past a full moon over Panama City, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
NASA's Artemis II moon rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-B Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Spectators leave the A. Max Brewer Bridge after viewing NASA's Artemis II moon rocket launch, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Titusville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
NASA's Artemis II moon rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-B Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
The full moon rises behind the statue of St. George atop of a bilding in Moscow, early Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov)
Artifacts sit in the Apollo Mission Control room at Johnson Space Center on Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Photographers set up remote cameras near NASA's Artemis II moon rocket on Launch Pad 39-B just before sunrise at the Kennedy Space Center Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Astronauts , from left, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, of Canada, Pilot Victor Glover, Commander Reid Wiseman and Mission Specialist Christina Koch leave the Operations and Checkout Building for a trip to Launch Pad 39-B and a planned liftoff on NASA's Artemis II moon rocket at the Kennedy Space Center Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Mission Commander Reid Wiseman makes a heart with his hands as he leaves the Operations and Checkout Building for a trip to Launch Pad 39-B and a planned liftoff on NASA's Artemis II moon rocket at the Kennedy Space Center Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
People ride a roller coaster past the full moon on the funfair in Frankfurt, Germany, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
NASA emplyees react as astronauts leave the Operations and Checkout Building for a trip to Launch Pad 39-B and a planned liftoff on NASA's Artemis II moon rocket at the Kennedy Space Center Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
The NASA Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket with the Orion spacecraft launches at the Kennedy Space Center, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) CORRECTION: photographer is Chris O'Meara, not John Raoux
Members of the Cleveland Guardians warm up as NASA'S Artemis ll rocket is seen prior to launch from Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center on the big screen above them prior to a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Ottawa city councillor Tim Tierney wears a costume astronaut helmet as he joins others watching the launch of Artemis II on a livestream displayed on the Kipnes Lantern of the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)
People react on Elgin Street as the Artemis II moon rocket lifts off, on a livestream displayed on the Kipnes Lantern of the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)
NASA's Artemis II moon rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-B Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
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It’s official. Artemis II has broken Apollo 13’s distance record. The three Americans and one Canadian on Monday journeyed farther from Earth than any other humans.
