# Artemis II is now in orbit after launching from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

*aerospace · news · 2026-04-02 · WIS10*

## Key points

- Artemis II is now in orbit after launching from Kennedy Space Center Wednesday night.
- Artemis II is the first crewed mission heading to the moon in over 50 years.
- Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, a South Carolina native, led the Artemis II launch.
- She was NASA’s first female launch director and previously oversaw Artemis I in 2022.

**Companies:** NASA
**Countries:** United States

[Read the full story on WIS10](https://www.wistv.com/2026/04/02/south-carolina-native-leads-launch-nasas-artemis-ii-mission/)

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