Four astronauts begin 10-day moon flight on Boeing-built rocket

Boeing’s Space Launch System (SLS) core stage successfully powered NASA’s crewed Artemis II mission, which launched on April 1, 2026, enabling the Orion spacecraft to begin a 10-day lunar flyaround with four astronauts aboard. The 212-foot core stage completed all critical operations, including engine ignition, thrust vector control, and separation, performing as intended. Boeing is already producing the next core stages for future Artemis missions, reaffirming its commitment to deep-space exploration.