NASA plans to make history today (April 1) with the launch of Artemis 2, the first crewed moon mission since Apollo 17 in 1972.

Christine Klein took up duty as acting Director of Controlling, Finance and Operational Procurement (D/CFO) at the European Space Agency on 1 April 2026. She will lead the newly established directorate during its consolidation.

Géraldine Naja took up duty as Director of Space Transportation (D/STS) at the European Space Agency on 1 April 2026. She will continue to serve as head of her former directorate, now called the Commercialisation and Industry Partnership directorate (D/CIP), as acting director.

NASA’s Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft stand at Launch Complex 39B on Tuesday, March 31, ahead of the planned launch of Artemis 2. Image: Michael Cain/Spaceflight Now

For the first time in more than 53 years, NASA is preparing to send humans beyond low Earth orbit. As soon as Wednesday evening, four astronauts will embark on an a more than nine-day mission with the goal of flying around the Moon and back.

Introduction to Planetary Orbits

The paths that planets take as they revolve around the Sun are known as orbits. In our solar system, all eight planets—Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—follow distinct, elliptical (oval-shaped) paths around the Sun. This motion is governed primarily by the law of universal gravitation, as famously described by Sir Isaac Newton, and the geometrical laws of planetary motion formulated by Johannes Kepler.

NASA's XRISM X-ray spacecraft has clocked 2 million mph winds ripping out of a distant galaxy bursting with star formation.

NASA is hoping for a historic moon launch, not a punchline on April 1.

Comet MAPS is about to face its ultimate test as it sweeps just 101,000 miles above the sun's surface.

"If an event is particularly bad, there are some places in the capsule, such as storage bays and down by the toilet, that the crew can go to."

Unistellar co-founder tells Space.com about how citizen scientists are using smart telescopes to engage in planetary defense.

The movie that took Shakespeare to the stars, and wrote the blueprint for movie space opera.

The crew's 10-day mission will be filled with science, spacecraft tests, medical checks, survival training and more.

"Playing military characters is always interesting for me. They're all homages to a family member."

The four astronaut's of NASA's Artemis 2 mission arrived in style at Kennedy Space Center ahead of their historic moon mission.

Striking images from Hubble, Webb, and the Very Large Telescope dive into Saturn's atmosphere, capture the Crab Nebula's expansion, and reveal a newborn planet.

The first full moon of spring, known as the Paschal Moon, sets the date for Easter each year.