NASA's Artemis II has left Earth's orbit, and 4 astronauts now head to the moon

NPR
by Nell Greenfieldboyce
April 3, 2026
1 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

NASA's Artemis II spacecraft is now en route to orbit the moon with four astronauts aboard.

AI Summary

NASA's Artemis II spacecraft has completed its final engine burn and departed Earth's orbit, setting four astronauts on course for the moon. The spacecraft's trajectory now positions it for a lunar flyby mission and return to Earth. This marks a critical milestone in NASA's effort to return humans to the lunar surface, with Artemis II serving as a crewed test flight ahead of future landing missions.

Source Coverage Map

23 of 43 tracked sources covered this story

53% coverage
Did Not Cover (20)
ICIJ97AP World News96ProPublica95Bellingcat95Reuters US95+15 more

Following this story?

Get notified when new coverage appears

Other Sources Covering This Story

5 sources

Multiple outlets have reported on this story. Compare perspectives from different sources.

Should this be getting more attention?

You Might Have Missed

Related stories from different sources and perspectives

Meet the Artemis crew in NASA's first astronaut mission to the moon in more than a half-century - AP News
Government Transparency

Meet the Artemis crew in NASA's first astronaut mission to the moon in more than a half-century - AP News

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiigFBVV95cUxOMmtRN0w1TkNJVkotaFhfbVlvclBhTmxOSEtOUktxcmdjcXJNRUZUOUtQQ2VjTU92dVlEajFOaGpqUk1XX1BKUHFhcXNZR0U5VDV4X2k2Mk56M0djMThsVTFNNmJjR25KZ28tNEdJbzRpbFN5ZW1FMlI1YWdIRW90ZktfTXVmWGVsS1E?oc=5" target="_blank">Meet the Artemis crew in NASA's first astronaut mission to the moon in more than a half-century</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

AP NewsMar 28
Artemis II astronauts arrive at Florida launch site for first moon trip in 53 years - AP News
Government Transparency

Artemis II astronauts arrive at Florida launch site for first moon trip in 53 years - AP News

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikgFBVV95cUxPNDNyUXJTYmVGaE12ZW1xNzc1MFh0c3lycXpMWF81VHg3a0FvNEpmemVYTVlIcXNiaTRxYkhNVmFWN2J5cTJJSFhZY19XUmxka2lEblgtT3hIc1ZCdlJMM1ZzVHFHa3ZTcjI5cmZmTjNURFNtcEtNLXVFdUh4cnlOU3ZlZ0t3LW1PZ21oWV9WSUw5QQ?oc=5" target="_blank">Artemis II astronauts arrive at Florida launch site for first moon trip in 53 years</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

AP NewsMar 27
Astronaut who was evacuated from ISS describes ordeal, looks ahead to Artemis II mission
Technology

Astronaut who was evacuated from ISS describes ordeal, looks ahead to Artemis II mission

NASA astronaut Mike Fincke, the astronaut who was medically evacuated from the International Space Station, joined CBS News 24/7 Mornings with more details on the unexpected event and his take on the Artemis II mission to scope the moon.

CBS NewsMar 27
Missouri court says new Trump-backed US House districts are in effect ahead of midterm elections - AP News
Politics

Missouri court says new Trump-backed US House districts are in effect ahead of midterm elections - AP News

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMingFBVV95cUxORU1LNndoTmo3MFhBY0tic0Y3NDJoSmVkdml4SW92aTZ0YXRaMm1vLUJCeXd4YW9lVlVKaGpvZTdkZkFqV1kxV3hXRDhKTVo2bkFKdXhWb2l6bEFZYUlZTWZYRjFFMmFmc3M2cGtGbExXa0VRVEpQLVBjSTdONlhxaS0wWDRRNnQ1R29EUFpMTXZELUxOTWZEUEZQOUU3dw?oc=5" target="_blank">Missouri court says new Trump-backed US House districts are in effect ahead of midterm elections</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

AP NewsMar 27
US Forest Service to move headquarters from Washington DC to Salt Lake City
Government Transparency

US Forest Service to move headquarters from Washington DC to Salt Lake City

<p>Announcement part of controversial shakeup described by critics as administration attack on ‘science and scientists’</p><p>The Trump administration will move the US Forest Service headquarters from Washington DC to Salt Lake City and shut down its regional offices, the agriculture department has announced. The announcement sets in motion a controversial reorganization for the country’s second-largest federal land management agency that Trump officials have planned since last year.</p><p>The move, which the USDA touted as a “commonsense approach”, recalls the first Trump administration’s chaotic attempt to relocate the Bureau of Land Management from Washington DC to Colorado, first announced in 2019. The agency lost nearly <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2026/03/31/forest-service-headquarters-move-utah-trump/">90% of its Washington-based staff</a>, who declined to move – only for the BLM to return toWashington after Joe Biden took office.</p> <a href="h...

The Guardian US NewsApr 1
Under Trump, Wall Street regulator's headcount falls 18%, watchdog says - Reuters
Government Transparency

Under Trump, Wall Street regulator's headcount falls 18%, watchdog says - Reuters

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi2wFBVV95cUxPWHpzUFQ5S2dJZUhhdGs3VXFuRjRjTnlwQWJkOExDVjFvVFEyaHZIRFlPR3NOUGNPMXJXb3R0MHRDV3Q2bWNRMzdiSHNZdEtQdk5sVEJxWHpCaTloZVdiQVBqeGwxSlA0ZE83SkdUaXAxYU95bVNnU0NYVUlPR2hrclhrUFlmNm8wbTJkMGdndDNjaUV5UEg1czJJRFlLSlAyMUxXLUpscmlVaVY4OWxBTGx0SGFxTWMwTEdnenVRaDU5TVdoaDBWOHA1dDNuWTRjTmQ0T0Y1MjBuNnM?oc=5" target="_blank">Under Trump, Wall Street regulator's headcount falls 18%, watchdog says</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>

ReutersMar 27
Read Next
Judges are increasingly using AI to draft rulings and prepare for hearings
Technology

Judges are increasingly using AI to draft rulings and prepare for hearings

A study found over 60 percent of surveyed judges have used AI in their work, even as some experts worry AI’s unreliability could compromise their authority.

Continue reading

Did this story change how you see things?

Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.

Share this story

Get the daily digest

Save for later

The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.

See our sources