What the Artemis II astronauts are eating aboard the Orion spacecraft
The Artemis II mission astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft, which is scheduled to do a lunar flyby today, will be well-fed and hydrated with a specially crafted menu for space.
Food menu for the Artemis II crew while in orbit.
NASA
The menu, which was designed according to operational constraints and to fit each phase of the mission, was selected with input from the four-person crew, which NASA says had a chance to "sample, evaluate, and rate all foods on the standard menu during preflight testing."
Those preferences "are balanced with nutritional requirements and what Orion can accommodate," according to NASA.
'Welcome to my old neighborhood': Jim Lovell's message to the Artemis II crew
The Artemis II mission crew awoke Monday to a message from former astronaut Jim Lovell. Though perhaps best known as the commander of Apollo 13, Lovell also was the command module pilot of Apollo 8, which in December 1968 became the first crewed spaceflight to reach and orbit the moon.
Apollo 13 astronaut James Lovell speaks during a live taping of a NASA TV program at the Newseum, November 13, 2008 in Washington.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
"Welcome to my old neighborhood," Lovell begins the message. "When Frank Borman and Bill Anders and I orbited the moon on Apollo 8, we got humanity's first up-close look of the moon and got a view of the home planet that inspired and united people around the world."
"I'm proud to pass that torch on to you as you swing around the moon and lay the groundwork" for future missions, Lovell said.
The Earth rises above the moon in a picture known as Earthrise taken by Apollo 8 astronaut William Anders on December 24, 1968.
William Anders/NASA
"It's a historic day, and how busy you'll be. But don't forget to enjoy the view," the message concludes. "Good luck and Godspeed from all of us here on the good Earth."
Apollo 8, which launched Dec. 21, 1968, famously took the historic photograph of the first Earthrise over the lunar surface as seen by humans.
Lovell recorded his message to the Artemis II crew shortly before his death on Aug. 7, 2025, at age 97.
Apr 06, 2026, 11:24 AM EDT
Artemis II crew is awake and ready for their lunar flyby
The Artemis II mission crew is awake and preparing for today's historic lunar flyby.
NASA reported the crew wake-up at around 10:35 a.m. ET.
CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen shaves after waking up on the Orion spacecraft, April 6, 2026.
NASA
“Morning routine: Wake up, shave, make the bed, witness something that's never before been seen by human eyes," NASA said. "The Artemis II crew is preparing for today's lunar flyby, when they will see the Moon's far side.”
The interior of the Orion spacecraft, April 6, 2026.
NASA
The lunar flyby is scheduled to commence at 2:45 p.m. ET today, according to NASA.
-ABC News' Briana Alvarado
Apr 05, 2026, 8:44 PM EDT
Key milestones expected during lunar flyby
On Monday afternoon, the Artemis II crew is expected to surpass the distance record set during Apollo 13, traveling farther from Earth than any humans before them.
Later that evening, Orion will reach its maximum distance of 252,760 miles away, 4,105 miles farther than Apollo 13.
NASA has released a timeline of key moments during the flyby, as the world watches this next chapter of human spaceflight unfold.
NASA has released a timeline of key moments during the lunar flyby, as the world watches this next chapter of human spaceflight unfold.
