NASA's Artemis Mission: First Human Moon Landing Since 1972

The Chronify

January 16, 2026

NASA’s Artemis Mission Marks Historic Return to the Moon with Four Astronauts, Including First Woman and Black Astronaut

NASA's Artemis mission is set to make history as it sends humans to the Moon for the first time since 1972. In the second phase of the mission, four astronauts will set foot on the lunar surface: Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency. Notably, this mission features both the first woman and the first Black astronaut to land on the Moon.

Using NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, the astronauts will reach the Gateway space station in the Moon's orbit, from where they will board SpaceX's Starship lander to make their historic descent to the Moon's surface.

The launch windows are scheduled for February 6, 7, 8, 10, and 11; March 6, 7, 8, and 9; and April 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

The Artemis mission, which has faced political, budgetary, and competitive challenges, aims to break the record set by Apollo 13 and send humans farther than ever before from Earth.