The Artemis II Moon Mission: Get the Latest Updates with ABC News Live

By Jim Donnelly

Apr 4th, 2026

There was an episode of the hit ABC series Modern Family where Phil Dunphy dubbed Apollo 17 astronaut Eugene Cernan "the coolest dad of all time." Why? Cernan is the last man to have walked on the moon. Before heading back to Earth, he wrote his daughter's initials on the lunar surface. With no atmosphere on the moon, this remarkable father-daughter bonding gesture will stay in play forever. This is why dads everywhere hate Eugene Cernan… according to Phil Dunphy.

The Apollo space program has featured many historic moments like the ones we sometimes learn about in TV comedies. In 2026, history is destined to be made again. This time it'll be under the name Artemis, who happens to be the twin sister of Apollo. The Artemis II mission is the first time NASA is sending humans on a path to the moon since superdad Cernan's crew went there in 1972.

The Artemis II team of Victor Glover, Christina Hammock Koch and Reid Wiseman of NASA and Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency embarked on a 10-day journey for a fly-by of the moon Wednesday, April 1, 2026. ABC News Live, ABC News' 24/7 streaming news channel, had comprehensive reporting for the liftoff. Live coverage continues throughout this week. On Monday, April 6, the Artemis crew will travel further than any other humans have ever gone in space. ABC News Live marks the moment with coverage from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm ET. Later in the day, Artemis will slingshot around the moon. ABC News Live will have coverage from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm ET. On Friday, April 10, Artemis II will have splashdown. ABC News Live will be there for the event and the welcoming back of the astronauts. Check back often for updates on timing.

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In addition to what you'll see on ABC News Live, the launch and other major milestones of the Artemis II mission will also stream on Disney+ and Hulu. This includes the splashdown at the end of the historic journey. For now, let's focus on liftoff where we'll take you to Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral for every moment leading up to and including the launch. Watch ABC News Live for continuous updates and insight on Artemis II along with all the top news of the moment.

Marking humanity's return to lunar space for the first time in more than 50 years, National Geographic and ABC News are joining together as the definitive destination for comprehensive, immersive coverage of the historic mission. Through a collaboration with NASA under a nonreimbursable Space Act Agreement, National Geographic is equipping Artemis II astronauts with ultracompact, specially designed cameras and audio systems to document life aboard the Orion spacecraft. These tools will capture intimate, first-person perspectives that will live across @NatGeo's social media platforms, in Nat Geo's dedicated Artemis digital hub (natgeo.com/artemis), in coverage across the iconic magazine, and, later this year, in a documentary special to bring audiences closer to the experience of traveling beyond Earth's orbit.

Together, National Geographic and ABC News will deliver a comprehensive view of Artemis II, pairing National Geographic's signature immersive storytelling and unprecedented onboard access with ABC News' unmatched global reporting and live coverage. Audiences will be able to follow every moment of the mission across platforms, from National Geographic's magazine, website and social channels that reach more than 800 million followers to ABC News' broadcast, streaming and digital ecosystem, including streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

At launch, ABC News will have live continuous coverage from the launch site at Kennedy Space Center and the surrounding area in partnership with WFTV in Orlando, featuring interviews on the historic event and special event coverage airing across all ABC News platforms and National Geographic. From launch to splashdown, ABC News will feature comprehensive, multiplatform coverage, including updates from Mission Control Center at NASA's Johnson Space Center, in partnership with KTRK Houston, as well as expert commentary from former astronaut Susan Kilrain and other voices on space exploration. All updates can be found on ABC News' live blog: ABCNews.com/artemis.

This storytelling initiative will build in the lead-up to launch and culminate in a landmark National Geographic documentary special premiering in late 2026, offering an immersive portrait of humanity's return to the moon.

In April 2025, National Geographic's photo and video experts traveled to Houston to lead an "astronaut film school" and capture an immersive tour inside the Orion capsule mock-up. Artemis II crew members Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen were trained in visual storytelling techniques to document their lunar journey firsthand. They also gave Nat Geo's cameras an intimate tour of the Orion capsule that they'll inhabit during the mission, including a look at the living quarters, kitchen, gym and more. Starting today, this behind-the-scenes look will be available on National Geographic's Artemis hub and amplified across ABC News platforms.

This collaboration builds on a nearly century-long relationship between National Geographic and NASA, rooted in a shared commitment to exploration and discovery. From pioneering high-altitude balloon missions in 1935 to John Glenn carrying the National Geographic flag on the first U.S. orbital flight in 1962 and Neil Armstrong taking that same flag to the moon during Apollo 11, National Geographic has been both a witness to and participant in humanity's greatest journeys. Leading up to the launch, ABC News will feature the history of space exploration in America, the stories behind the Artemis II crew and more.

From the Voyager Golden Record in 1977 to pioneering storytelling from the International Space Station, National Geographic has long redefined how exploration is documented and shared, including hosting the first-ever Instagram Live from orbit in 2018. Alongside ABC News, National Geographic expands that legacy with Artemis II into a fully integrated, real-time global coverage experience, delivering access, reporting and storytelling across every platform where audiences are watching.