For more than half a century, one human-spaceflight record remained untouched.

In April 1970, the crew of Apollo 13 travelled farther from Earth than any humans before them.

Then came April 2026.

Four astronauts aboard NASA’s Artemis II mission travelled around the Moon and returned safely to Earth.

During their journey, they reached approximately:

252,756 miles — about 406,771 kilometres — from Earth.

That made them the farthest-travelling humans in history.

But breaking a 56-year-old record wasn't the only extraordinary part of the mission.

The crew:

• Flew around the Moon

• Observed its far side

• Photographed lunar geology

• Witnessed Earth disappear behind the Moon

• Watched Earth rise again

• Experienced a solar eclipse from lunar space

• Tested the Orion spacecraft with humans aboard

• Returned safely to Earth after nearly 10 days

It was humanity's first crewed journey to the Moon since the Apollo era.

And unlike Apollo, Artemis isn't intended to end with a few missions.

NASA's long-term objective is to establish the capabilities required for sustained lunar exploration—and eventually prepare for human missions to Mars.

So what exactly happened during Artemis II?

Let's go approximately 400,000 kilometres from home and find out.

What Was Artemis II?

Artemis II was the first crewed mission of NASA's Artemis program.

The mission launched on:

April 1, 2026

from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Four astronauts travelled aboard the Orion spacecraft:

• Reid Wiseman

• Victor Glover

• Christina Koch

• Jeremy Hansen

Three represented NASA.

Jeremy Hansen represented the Canadian Space Agency.

Their mission was fundamentally a test flight.

But calling it "just a test flight" is rather like calling Everest "a hill."

The crew travelled from Earth, around the Moon and back again.

Meet the Artemis II Crew

Reid Wiseman — Commander

NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman served as mission commander.

He had previously flown aboard the International Space Station.

As commander, Wiseman was responsible for leading the crew throughout one of the most significant human spaceflight missions since Apollo.

Victor Glover — Pilot

NASA astronaut Victor Glover served as pilot.

Glover previously flew aboard SpaceX Crew-1 and spent months aboard the International Space Station.

His Artemis II flight also represented an important milestone in NASA's lunar exploration history.

Christina Koch — Mission Specialist

NASA astronaut Christina Koch served as a mission specialist.

Koch was already well known before Artemis II.

During an earlier mission aboard the International Space Station, she completed one of the longest continuous spaceflights ever undertaken by a woman.

Artemis II added another extraordinary chapter to that career.

Jeremy Hansen — Mission Specialist

Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen served as the mission's second mission specialist.

His participation represented a major milestone for Canadian space exploration.

Artemis is an international program, and Canada's involvement extends beyond astronaut participation to technologies supporting future lunar exploration.

When Did Artemis II Launch?

Artemis II launched from:

Kennedy Space Center, Florida

on:

April 1, 2026.

NASA's Space Launch System rocket carried Orion and its four-person crew away from Earth.

The mission then began its journey toward the Moon.

For travellers interested in space exploration, Kennedy Space Center is also one of the world's best destinations for experiencing spaceflight history firsthand.

We'll return to that later.

How Far Did Artemis II Travel From Earth?

This is where Artemis II entered the history books.

On April 6, 2026, the spacecraft surpassed the previous human distance record set during Apollo 13.

At its farthest point, Orion reached:

252,756 miles from Earth.

That's approximately:

406,771 kilometres.

Apollo 13's record had stood since:

1970.

For 56 years, nobody went farther.

Then four people did.

Why Did Artemis II Travel So Far?

The mission used a trajectory that carried Orion around the Moon before Earth's gravity eventually pulled the spacecraft home.

Unlike a lunar-orbit mission, Orion didn't simply circle the Moon repeatedly.

The trajectory was designed partly to provide a naturally returning path toward Earth.

That provides important safety advantages during a crewed test mission.

How Close Did Artemis II Get to the Moon?

During the lunar flyby, Orion reached approximately:

4,067 miles — around 6,545 kilometres — above the lunar surface.

That might sound distant compared with the Apollo missions that entered low lunar orbit.

But Artemis II wasn't designed to land.

Its purpose was to test critical systems with humans aboard before future missions attempt more ambitious lunar operations.

What Did the Astronauts See?

This may have been the most extraordinary part of the mission.

As Orion approached and travelled around the Moon, the astronauts conducted approximately seven hours of lunar observations.

They studied features including:

• Impact craters

• Ancient lava flows

• Surface fractures

• Ridges

• Colour variations

• Differences in surface brightness

Human observation still matters.

Cameras and robotic spacecraft are excellent scientific tools.

But astronauts can react to unexpected features immediately.

They can look again.

Change angles.

Describe subtle colours.

Ask questions.

That makes the human eye a surprisingly powerful scientific instrument.

Artemis II Saw Parts of the Moon Humans Had Never Directly Seen

During its trajectory, the crew observed and photographed regions of the lunar surface that humans had never directly viewed before.

The far side of the Moon cannot be seen from Earth because the Moon is tidally locked.

That means roughly the same hemisphere always faces us.

Spacecraft have photographed the far side extensively.

But seeing it directly through a spacecraft window?

That's a much rarer club.

Membership currently requires a rocket.

Earthset: Watching Earth Disappear Behind the Moon

Imagine looking through a spacecraft window.

Earth is visible in the distance.

Then the Moon slowly moves between you and everything you've ever known.

Earth disappears.

During Artemis II's lunar flyby, the crew witnessed this phenomenon.

NASA referred to the moment as:

Earthset.

As Orion moved behind the Moon, Earth dropped below the lunar horizon from the crew's perspective.

At the same time, something else happened.

Communication stopped.

Why Artemis II Lost Communication Behind the Moon

For roughly 40 minutes, NASA's mission control couldn't communicate normally with Orion.

Nothing had gone wrong.

The Moon itself was blocking the signal.

Earth-based radio signals couldn't travel directly through the Moon to reach the spacecraft.

Similar communication blackouts occurred during Apollo missions.

The crew therefore continued flying independently until Orion emerged from behind the Moon.

Then came another remarkable sight.

Earthrise

As Orion emerged around the opposite side of the Moon, Earth reappeared.

Earthrise.

Photographs of Earth seen from lunar space have historically become some of the most powerful images produced by human exploration.

From that distance, national borders disappear.

The entire planet becomes a small object surrounded by darkness.

Every:

• City

• Country

• Ocean

• Forest

• Person

exists inside that tiny sphere.

Perspective becomes rather difficult to ignore.

Then the Sun Disappeared Too

The mission wasn't finished providing astronomical theatre.

Near the end of the lunar observation period, Orion, the Moon and the Sun aligned.

From the astronauts' perspective, the Moon moved in front of the Sun.

The result:

A solar eclipse in deep space.

The eclipse lasted nearly an hour.

The astronauts watched the Sun disappear behind the Moon while observing the solar corona around its edge.

A Solar Eclipse From the Moon

Most people who witness a solar eclipse do so from Earth.

You stand outside.

Wear eclipse glasses.

Look upward.

The Artemis II crew had a somewhat different viewing location:

Beyond the Moon.

During the eclipse, they could observe the Sun's outer atmosphere—the corona—appearing around the lunar edge.

The crew even used eclipse viewers during the event.

It became the first use of eclipse glasses at the Moon.

Some travel experiences are difficult to package.

Artemis II Also Looked for Meteoroid Impacts

During the eclipse observation period, astronauts also watched for flashes caused by meteoroids potentially striking the lunar surface.

Why?

Because understanding impact frequency can help scientists evaluate hazards for future lunar operations.

The Moon doesn't have Earth's thick atmosphere to burn up many incoming objects.

That means meteoroid impacts represent a real consideration for:

• Astronauts

• Habitats

• Equipment

• Future lunar bases

Even an eclipse could therefore become a scientific opportunity.

How Long Did Artemis II Last?

The mission lasted nearly:

10 days.

Artemis II launched on April 1.

The crew splashed down on:

April 10, 2026.

Their Orion spacecraft landed in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California near San Diego.

Recovery teams then retrieved the astronauts and spacecraft.

Four people had travelled around the Moon.

And returned home.

How Far Did Artemis II Travel in Total?

NASA's final mission figures put the total journey at approximately:

694,481 miles

or roughly:

1.12 million kilometres.

That's the total mission distance—not simply the maximum distance from Earth.

The distinction matters.

A spacecraft can travel enormous cumulative distances while its maximum straight-line distance from Earth is considerably smaller.

Why Artemis II Matters

Breaking records makes headlines.

But the distance record wasn't the mission's primary purpose.

Artemis II was designed to answer a much more important question:

Can Orion safely support astronauts during a deep-space lunar mission?

Future Artemis missions depend on the answer.

NASA tested systems including:

• Life support

• Navigation

• Communications

• Crew operations

• Spacecraft performance

• Deep-space procedures

Every successful test provides data for the next mission.

Artemis I vs Artemis II

You may remember hearing about Artemis I.

What's the difference?

Artemis I

Artemis I flew around the Moon without astronauts.

It tested the spacecraft and launch system.

Artemis II

Artemis II repeated the journey with:

Four humans aboard.

That changes everything.

Life support matters.

Crew interfaces matter.

Radiation monitoring matters.

Emergency procedures matter.

Human behaviour matters.

A spacecraft carrying people has rather stricter customer-service requirements.

What Comes After Artemis II?

Artemis II is part of a larger lunar exploration strategy.

NASA's Artemis program aims to develop the technologies and experience needed for sustained human exploration around and eventually on the Moon.

Future missions are expected to become progressively more complex.

That includes preparations for:

• Lunar landings

• Surface exploration

• Lunar infrastructure

• Scientific research

• International cooperation

The long-term objective extends even farther.

The Moon Is Practice for Mars

NASA frequently describes the Moon as an important stepping stone toward:

Mars.

Why?

Mars is vastly farther away.

Depending on orbital positions, travelling to Mars takes months rather than days.

If something goes wrong on the Moon, Earth is comparatively close.

If something goes wrong halfway to Mars?

Returning home becomes dramatically more difficult.

The Moon therefore provides an environment where NASA can learn how to:

• Operate far from Earth

• Maintain life-support systems

• Build habitats

• Manage resources

• Conduct surface science

• Test equipment

before attempting much longer human missions.

Space Exploration Is Becoming International

Artemis isn't purely an American project.

Countries and space agencies around the world are contributing technology, science and expertise.

The Canadian Space Agency's participation through Jeremy Hansen is one obvious example.

Future lunar exploration may involve cooperation across:

• Space agencies

• Universities

• Private companies

• International research institutions

The next era of lunar exploration could therefore look very different from Apollo.

Space Tourism on Earth Is Growing Too

You don't need to travel 406,000 kilometres from Earth to experience space history.

Fortunately.

The baggage allowance would be brutal.

There are excellent space-tourism destinations around the world.

1. Kennedy Space Center, Florida

For anyone fascinated by Artemis, this is the obvious destination.

Kennedy Space Center has been central to American human spaceflight for decades.

Visitors can explore exhibits connected to:

• Apollo

• Space Shuttle

• International Space Station

• Modern NASA programs

You can see actual spacecraft and enormous launch hardware while learning how missions are prepared.

Why Visit Kennedy Space Center in 2026?

Artemis has made Kennedy Space Center relevant to a new generation.

This isn't merely a museum celebrating events from the 1960s.

It's an active launch complex supporting current exploration.

Depending on your travel dates and launch schedules, you may even have opportunities to witness rocket launches from Florida's Space Coast.

Staying Connected During a Florida Space Trip

If you're travelling internationally to Florida, mobile data is extremely useful.

You'll likely need it for:

• Navigation

• Tickets

• Hotel bookings

• Rental transport

• Weather

• Launch updates

• Messaging

• Photography uploads

Before travelling, you can explore USA travel eSIM options through eSIMLLY.

Choose a plan according to your trip duration and data requirements, then follow its installation and activation instructions.

2. Space Center Houston

Another major destination is:

Space Center Houston.

Houston has been central to NASA's human-spaceflight operations for generations.

The Johnson Space Center supports:

• Astronaut training

• Mission operations

• Human spaceflight research

For travellers interested in the people behind the missions, Houston provides a different perspective from Florida's launch-focused experience.

Florida sends astronauts upward.

Houston helps bring the mission together.

3. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

Washington, D.C. offers another essential destination for space enthusiasts.

The Smithsonian's aerospace collections document the extraordinary evolution from early aviation to lunar exploration.

Travellers can explore artifacts connected to some of humanity's most important aerospace achievements.

4. California Science Center

Los Angeles is another excellent destination for space enthusiasts.

The California Science Center is associated with Space Shuttle Endeavour and broader aerospace exhibits.

That means a California trip can combine:

• Space history

• Los Angeles

• Beaches

• Museums

• Technology attractions

And if you're arriving from overseas, a USA eSIM from eSIMLLY can help keep your navigation and travel applications connected across the trip.

Build a NASA-Themed USA Road Trip

If Artemis II inspires you enough, you could build an entire American trip around space exploration.

For example:

Florida → Houston → Washington, D.C.

Visit:

Florida

Kennedy Space Center.

Texas

Space Center Houston.

Washington, D.C.

Smithsonian aerospace collections.

That's essentially several decades of human spaceflight history compressed into one holiday.

Why Connectivity Matters for a USA Road Trip

The United States is enormous.

Travellers depend heavily on smartphones for:

• Driving directions

• Domestic flights

• Hotel reservations

• Attraction tickets

• Ride-hailing

• Restaurant searches

• Translation

• Weather information

If you're visiting from another country, relying entirely on international roaming can be unnecessarily complicated.

With a compatible unlocked device, you can explore USA travel connectivity through eSIMLLY before departure.

What Is a Travel eSIM?

An eSIM is a digital SIM profile that can be installed on compatible devices.

Instead of purchasing and inserting another physical SIM card, you can install an eligible mobile plan digitally.

For international travel, that can make arrival simpler.

The process generally looks like:

Choose destination → Select plan → Install eSIM → Travel → Activate according to instructions → Connect

Through eSIMLLY, travellers can browse available eSIM options for supported destinations before leaving home.

How Much Data Do You Need for a USA Trip?

Your ideal data allowance depends on how you travel.

Light User

Mostly uses:

• Maps

• WhatsApp

• Email

• Basic browsing

A smaller allowance may work.

Regular Traveller

Also uses:

• Social media

• Music streaming

• Photo uploads

• Travel applications

Consider a medium package.

Heavy User

Regularly:

• Streams video

• Makes video calls

• Works remotely

• Uploads large files

• Uses hotspot

Consider larger plans where available.

Prepare Your Phone Before Travelling

Before leaving:

1. Confirm your device supports eSIM.

2. Check that it's carrier-unlocked.

3. Visit eSIMLLY.

4. Search available USA plans.

5. Compare data allowances.

6. Check validity.

7. Read the activation policy.

8. Install according to the supplied instructions.

9. Download offline maps.

10. Save important bookings offline.

You'll then have one fewer problem to solve after landing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Was Artemis II?

Artemis II was NASA's first crewed mission under the Artemis program.

Four astronauts travelled aboard Orion around the Moon and returned safely to Earth in April 2026.

Who Were the Artemis II Astronauts?

The crew consisted of:

• Reid Wiseman

• Victor Glover

• Christina Koch

• Jeremy Hansen

Wiseman, Glover and Koch represented NASA.

Hansen represented the Canadian Space Agency.

When Did Artemis II Launch?

Artemis II launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on:

April 1, 2026.

Did Artemis II Land on the Moon?

No.

Artemis II was a lunar flyby mission.

The crew travelled around the Moon and returned to Earth without landing on the lunar surface.

How Far Did Artemis II Travel From Earth?

At its farthest point, Orion reached approximately:

252,756 miles — 406,771 kilometres — from Earth.

That established a new record for the farthest distance travelled by humans.

What Record Did Artemis II Break?

Artemis II surpassed the human distance record established by Apollo 13 in 1970.

That record had stood for approximately 56 years.

Did Artemis II See a Solar Eclipse?

Yes.

Near the end of the lunar observation period, the Sun passed behind the Moon from Orion's perspective.

The crew witnessed a nearly hour-long solar eclipse and observed the solar corona.

Did Artemis II Lose Contact With Earth?

Yes, temporarily.

As Orion passed behind the Moon, the lunar body blocked direct communication with Earth's Deep Space Network.

Communication resumed after the spacecraft emerged.

How Long Was Artemis II?

The mission lasted nearly 10 days.

It launched April 1 and splashed down April 10, 2026.

Where Did Artemis II Land?

Orion splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California near San Diego.

Can Tourists Visit NASA Launch Sites?

Kennedy Space Center in Florida has a major visitor complex where travellers can learn about NASA's past and current missions.

Launch viewing opportunities may also be available depending on scheduled missions and visitor-access conditions.

Can International Travellers Use an eSIM in the USA?

Yes, travellers with compatible unlocked devices can use suitable travel eSIM plans where supported networks provide coverage.

You can explore available USA connectivity options through eSIMLLY.

Final Thoughts: Artemis II Was More Than a Record

For 56 years, three Apollo 13 astronauts held an extraordinary record.

No human being had ever travelled farther from Earth.

Then, on April 6, 2026, four people passed that invisible line.

Reid Wiseman.

Victor Glover.

Christina Koch.

Jeremy Hansen.

They continued outward until they were approximately:

406,771 kilometres from Earth.

But the number isn't the most important part.

During their journey they looked through Orion's windows and saw something humans hadn't experienced in more than half a century:

The Moon from close range.

They watched Earth disappear behind the lunar horizon.

They saw it rise again.

They observed the Moon's far side.

They witnessed a solar eclipse in deep space.

Then they came home.

Artemis II demonstrated something more important than a distance record:

Human beings are travelling beyond low-Earth orbit again.

And this time, the Moon isn't necessarily the final destination.

It's preparation for what comes next.

For the rest of us, the closest thing to boarding Orion may be visiting the places where these missions are built, launched and controlled.

Kennedy Space Center.

Houston.

Washington.

California.

If Artemis II inspires your own space-themed trip to the United States, eSIMLLY can help with one considerably more Earth-bound challenge: staying connected while you travel.

Use eSIMLLY to explore suitable USA travel eSIM options before departure, so you can use mobile data for maps, tickets, launch updates, hotels and transportation once you arrive.

NASA is working on taking humanity farther into space.

Your trip probably won't cover 1.12 million kilometres.

But wherever on Earth you're heading, eSIMLLY can help keep the journey connected.