Artemis II crew, we hear you loud and clear.

Inside Mission Control, engineers like Ami Killeen in the Orion Mission Evaluation Room are keeping a close eye on Orion’s communication systems, keeping us seamlessly connected with the crew as they continue their journey toward the Moon.

Data, delivered at the speed of light. 💫

Orion’s Artemis II Optical Communications System (O2O) downlinked more than 100 gigabytes of data using laser communications. This image is just one of the many files transmitted. Learn more about O2O: go.nasa.gov/3O4FmRi

Update from mission control: this trajectory correction burn was also cancelled since the translunar injection was so precise 🎯 Our European Service Module continues to power Orion's journey around the Moon 🌕

‍TOILET UPDATE: Full Orion toilet functionality is expected to be restored in approximately 2 hours, according to Mission Control Houston.

Since the previous update, the toilet has been limited to Numbers 2s, allowing the stored waste in the tank to be vented into space.

In the meantime, the crew is continuing to use the Contingency Urinals for Number 1s.

Artemis II just hit the "two thirds" mark of the journey to the Moon.

During Flight Day 4, the astronauts aboard Orion went over plans to study the Moon during their upcoming lunar flyby and are currently practicing manually controlling the spacecraft.

Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen peers out the window of the Orion spacecraft on day 3 of the mission. The controls over the commander and pilot seats are illuminated in the foreground, but the cabin is otherwise dark to avoid unnecessary glares on the windows.

This black and white image of Earth was captured by the optical navigation sensor on the exterior of the Orion spacecraft on the first day of the Artemis II mission, as the four astronauts inside were traveling farther than any humans have ventured in more than 50 years.

The Orion spacecraft has a couple of backseat drivers.

Breaking Toilet Update: The toilet has returned to full operational use

Houston: "It's maybe another hour before we can get back to you with a forward plan"

Christina H Koch: "Would you authorize one use of the toilet *chuckles*" 😅

Houston: "Checking"

[prolonged pause]

Houston: "Integrity, Houston, Breaking News [...] At this time, you are good for all types of uses of the toilet"

Koch: "AND THE CREW REJOICES! Thank You!"

Two views of the jettison of the launch abort system from the Orion spacecraft during the Artemis II launch. The launch abort system jettisoned 3 minutes and 18 seconds after the mission lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In the event of early ascent emergencies, the launch abort system would quickly pull Orion and the crew safely from the Space Launch System rocket. If needed for an abort, the launch abort system can accelerate from 0 to 500 mph in 2 seconds.

History in the making

In this new image from our NASA Artemis II crew, you can see Orientale basin on the right edge of the lunar disk. This mission marks the first time the entire basin has been seen with human eyes. [Why?]

Shortly after NASA’s Orion spacecraft passed the halfway mark between the Earth and the Moon, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen conducted a live question and answer session with media who were on site at the Canadian Space Agency HQ in Longueuil (Quebec, Canada). The conversation occurred on April 4, 2026, while the Artemis II mission was on its way to fly around the Moon.

Don't worry: space has mac and cheese.

Food aboard Orion must be easy to prepare and consume in microgravity, minimize crumbs, and remain safe and stable throughout the mission. The crew provided input well before the meals were packed for the test flight.

Join the crew of Artemis II as they discuss their personal feelings about what the Moon means to them.

Dining in space isn’t exactly a Michelin Star experience, but it is exciting. The Artemis II mission is no exception: the astronauts’ menu includes foods such as macaroni and cheese, beef brisket, broccoli au gratin—and 58 tortillas.

In all, the four crew members—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Jeremy Hansen and Christina Koch—have a selection of 189 different menu items to choose from on their journey around the moon. Tortillas are among the most popular astronaut foods—in part because it’s simply easy to fill them, fold them up and eat them without bits floating off in the zero-g environment inside a spacecraft.

On Friday the crew’s breakfast menu included vegetable quiche, scrambled eggs, couscous with nuts, peaches and oatmeal. “There’s even a muffin being enjoyed today,” said NASA public affairs officer Leah Cheshier Mustachio in the agency’s livestream coverage of the mission. Coffee is also in high demand: NASA has allotted 43 cups of coffee for the crew—a little more than 10 cups per astronaut across the 10-day mission.

"...copy, Moon joy."

Why do the Artemis II astronauts keep calling their Orion spacecraft, "Integrity"?

The crew chose this name for their home away from home because it "embodies the foundation of trust, respect, candor, and humility" of the teams behind the Artemis II mission.