Artemis II

Quick Facts: Who was Artemis II?

Subject:

Artemis II

Known for:

First crewed flight beyond LEO since Apollo 17, testing Orion and SLS.

Died:

Living / None

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Artemis II (April 1–11, 2026) flew a crew of four on a flyby of the Moon. It was the first crewed flight of the NASA-led Artemis program, the first beyond low Earth orbit (LEO) since Apollo 17 in 1972, and the first beyond LEO not part of the Apollo program. It was also the first crewed flight of the Space Launch System and of the Orion spacecraft, which the crew named Integrity.

Career & Major Achievements

The four crew members of Artemis II were Victor Glover, the only person of color, Christina Koch, the only woman, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen the only person not from the United States, and Reid Wiseman the oldest person to travel beyond low Earth orbit and around the Moon. During their lunar flyby, the crew broke Apollo 13's record of 248,655 miles (400,171 km) for the greatest human distance from Earth, reaching a maximum distance of 252,756 miles (406,771 km).

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The mission was a test flight supporting the Artemis IV mission to return humans to the lunar surface. Originally designated Exploration Mission-2 (EM-2) and intended to support the canceled Asteroid Redirect Mission, its objectives were revised after the establishment of the Artemis program in 2017.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1972: 1972 Milestone — It was the first crewed flight of the NASA-led Artemis program, the first beyond low Earth orbit (LEO) since Apollo 17 in 1972, and the first beyond LEO not part of the Apollo program.
2. 2017: 2017 Milestone — Originally designated Exploration Mission-2 (EM-2) and intended to support the canceled Asteroid Redirect Mission, its objectives were revised after the establishment of the Artemis program in 2017.
3. 2026: 2026 Milestone — Artemis II (April 1–11, 2026) flew a crew of four on a flyby of the Moon.

Notable Quotes by Artemis II

“Earthset, by astronaut Christina Koch aboard Integrity” (2026)

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Artemis II

True or False: “Artemis II broke the Apollo 13 record for the greatest human distance from Earth.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): The crew reached a maximum distance of 252,756 miles (406,771 km), surpassing the Apollo 13 record of 248,655 miles.

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• Adam West — Historical peer (Died in 2017) (2017): American actor best known for portraying Batman in the 1960s and extensive voice work.

Frequently Asked Questions about Artemis II