when will orion reach the moon

Orion is already on the way to the Moon in the current Artemis II mission, and it’s expected to reach the Moon around Monday, April 6, 2026, at about 1 p.m. ET. During that flyby, it will pass close to the lunar surface rather than land.

Quick Scoop

• The spacecraft completed its Earth-departure burn and is now traveling toward the Moon.

• The closest lunar approach is expected on flight day 6, with Orion flying about 4,000 miles above the Moon.

• Artemis II is a 10-day mission and does not include a landing.

What “reach the Moon” means here

In this mission, “reach the Moon” means Orion arrives for a lunar flyby , not a touchdown. NASA’s timeline says the crew will swing around the far side of the Moon before heading back to Earth.

Bottom line

If you mean the current Artemis II mission , Orion should reach the Moon on April 6, 2026, around 1 p.m. ET.