Relive NASA's historic Artemis 2 launch to the moon in these stunning photos

Click for next article The Artemis 2 mission blasts off from Kennedy Space Center on April 1 (Image credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky) Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Get the Space.com Newsletter Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more! By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter On Wednesday (April 1), NASA launched its history-making Artemis 2 mission, which will see humanity return to the vicinity of the moon for the first time in over half a century. Not only this, but Artemis 2 will carry humans farther into space than they have ever ventured before. The Artemis 2 mission launched at 6:35 p.m. EDT (2235 GMT) atop the massive Space Launch System rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, sending the Orion space capsule on a trajectory that will see astronauts Victor Glover, Christina Koch, Reid Wiseman and Jeremy Hansen fly a historic 10-day voyage around the moon and back. As is fitting for such an important event in science history, the launch was captured from a multitude of views in stunning images that immortalize this giant leap for humanity. Want to preserve this historic moment in human spaceflight history? Check out our Artemis 2 gift guide to find the perfect gift for the space fan in your life — or yourself. Every rocket launch begins with a waiting game. The SLS was rolled out to the historic Launch Pad 39B on March 19 at around 8 p.m. EDT (0000 GMT on March 20), for an agonizing 12-day wait. NASA's Artemis 2 Space Launch System rocket waits on its mobile launcher prior to launch at Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (Image credit: Josh Dinner) Finally, the moment of anticipation arrived with the SLS launching NASA's Reid Wiseman , Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency to space. The image below beautifully illustrates the sheer power required to get the four-person crew beyond Earth. NASA's SLS rocket ignites its core stage and boosters shortly and takes of from Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center on April 1, 2026. (Image credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images) The launch was impressive even from close to 3 miles (5 kilometers) away at the Kennedy Space Center press site. SLS blasts off from Launch Pad 39B in front of the iconic countdown clock at NASA's Kennedy Space Center press site. (Image credit: Gregg Newton / AFP via Getty Images) Space.com's Josh Dinner captured this stunning photograph of the Artemis 2 launch from Kennedy Space Center, Florida. NASA's Space Launch System rocket launches the Artemis 2 mission on April 1, 2026. (Image credit: Space.c