artemis 2 when will it reach the moon

Artemis II is expected to reach the Moon about 5 days after launch , during its planned lunar flyby. Public mission coverage says the spacecraft will fly as close as 8,000 km (about 5,000 miles) from the Moon’s surface on April 6, 2026 , after launching on April 1, 2026.

Quick Scoop

• Launch: April 1, 2026.

• Moon flyby / closest approach: April 6, 2026.

• Mission length: about 10 days total, with return to Earth on April 10, 2026.

If you want, I can also give you the full Artemis II day-by-day timeline in a simple table.