The Artemis II Mission Was More Like a Moon Drive-By Than a Landing — Here’s Why

When NASA’s Orion spacecraft was launched into space from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 1, 2026, at 6:35 pm for its Artemis II mission to the moon, you could say people got pretty excited. That’s because the last time humans were believed to have landed on the moon was over 50 years ago during the Apollo 17 mission in 1972, marking more than five decades since astronauts touched down on the lunar surface.

But after the Artemis II mission began and the Orion spacecraft was launched into space, people learned that the astronauts aboard wouldn't be landing on the moon, leaving many confused and even a little disappointed. So, why didn’t they land on the moon during this mission?

The Artemis II mission to the moon on April 1, 2026, was more of a drive-by around the moon, not an actual landing. In essence, it was a test run, not a pit stop. While the Artemis II mission did carry four astronauts closer to the moon than anyone has been in over 50 years, it wasn’t an opportunity for them to land and explore.

The goal of the April 1 space mission is for the spacecraft and astronauts to get close enough to conduct research that can assist with future investigations and human spaceflights to both the moon and Mars, according to NASA.

During the Artemis II mission, astronauts aboard the Orion will fly by the far side of the moon, the side not facing Earth, for a three-hour period and take photographs that will help them and other scientists learn more about the moon’s geologic features. They “will analyze and photograph geologic features, such as impact craters and ancient lava flows,” and use this information, along with other data, to help guide further exploration of the moon’s South Pole region.

The Artemis II mission is also being used to study the effects of deep space travel on human health, including how it “influences the human body, mind, and behavior.” The data collected will be used to better protect astronauts during lunar travel and future missions to Mars.

During the mission, astronauts will be conducting an AVATAR (A Virtual Astronaut Tissue Analog Response) investigation using organ-on-a-chip devices “to study the effects of increased radiation and microgravity on human health,” NASA explains on its website. The agency expects this to help them take safety precautions to protect astronauts from potential stressors in space when the first humans are sent to Mars.

Artemis is the name designated for the program that serves as the umbrella for multiple space missions. Artemis I was the first uncrewed test flight, and it lasted just over 25 days. That mission launched on Nov. 16, 2022. With Artemis II, though, a crew was aboard the flight, allowing scientists and those involved in space exploration to gain further insight into space travel and the impact it has on human health.

So while humans weren’t sent to walk on the moon’s surface on April 1, they are essentially driving around it aboard the Orion spacecraft and are expected to conduct some useful research that can aid in future missions and landings on the moon. And speaking of that, NASA projects that the next moon landing will occur with Artemis IV in early 2028.