Pasadena, CA (April 1, 2026) — The Planetary Society, the world's largest space advocacy organization, has issued the following statements ahead of the historic launch of NASA's Artemis II — humanity's first crewed mission beyond low-Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972. The mission will send four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon, testing the systems needed for a future lunar landing and, ultimately, human missions to Mars.

"For the first time in more than 50 years, human beings are about to travel beyond low-Earth orbit — and the world gets to watch it happen. The Planetary Society, and our members in more than 100 countries around the world, could not be more proud or more excited to witness this moment.

This crew carries the scientific ambitions of a generation. The data Artemis II returns — on deep space radiation, human health beyond low-Earth orbit, and the geology of the Moon's far side — will protect every crew that follows them into deep space. Science is the reason this mission is worth doing, and science is what will endure long after the splashdown.

In Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen — which includes the first woman, first person of color, and first non-American to travel to lunar distance — we see what the future of exploration looks like. We are proud of this crew, proud of NASA, and proud of everyone who refused to stop pushing.”

The Planetary Society is the world's largest and most influential space interest organization. Founded in 1980 by astronomer Carl Sagan with Bruce Murray and Louis Friedman of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit is led today by CEO Jenn Vaughn and championed by Chief Ambassador Bill Nye. Members and donors fund programs in science and technology, public outreach, and advocacy. This work advances the exploration of space, the search for life beyond Earth, and the defense of our planet from dangerous asteroids and comets. Learn more at planetary.org.

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