On Wednesday, April 1st, 2026, the Artemis II launched, creating one of the biggest accomplishments in scientific and astrological history. NASA Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen became the first people since the 1970s to travel to the moon and back. This program was launched to establish human capability and test new technologies for possible future Mars trips. This launch paved the way for future trips to the moon by traveling a record-setting 252,756 miles away from Earth before returning, thereby increasing the total distance traveled to 694,481 miles. The team landed safely on Friday, April 11, 2026, and became known as the record-breaking space odyssey that opened up opportunities for space exploration and discovery. 

This momentous event is not only a breakthrough for science and astronomy but also for mankind as a whole. Reid Wiseman became the oldest person to leave Earth’s lower orbit. Victor Glover became the first person of color to leave the Earth’s lower orbit. Christina Koch became the first woman to leave Earth’s orbit. And Jeremy Hansen became the first non-U.S. citizen to leave the Earth’s lower orbit. This sparked inspiration throughout the world, giving people from diverse backgrounds the hope to believe that they, too, can make history.