Timeline: From first moon mission to Artemis II splashdown (1961-2026)
Summary
The timeline traces the evolution of lunar exploration from the 1961 Apollo program inception to the successful Artemis II crewed lunar flyby and splashdown in 2026.
Key Points
- US President John F. Kennedy declared the goal to land a man on the Moon by the end of the 1960s, initiating the Apollo program.
- Apollo missions achieved six successful Moon landings between 1969 and 1972, including Neil Armstrong's historic first steps.
- After over five decades without crewed lunar missions, NASA's Artemis program revived Moon exploration, targeting long-term human presence.
- Artemis II, launched in April 2026, completed the first crewed lunar flyby since Apollo and safely splashed down off San Diego, marking a key milestone.
