NASA Targets April 1 for Artemis II Crewed Lunar Mission
NASA plans to launch Artemis II on April 1, 2026, sending four astronauts on a 10-day mission around the Moon, marking the first crewed lunar flyby since 1972.
NASA has scheduled the launch of Artemis II for April 1, 2026, aiming to send four astronauts on a 10-day mission around the Moon and back. This mission will be the first crewed lunar flyby since Apollo 17 in 1972. The crew comprises NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
The decision follows a comprehensive flight readiness review, during which all teams confirmed their readiness for the mission.
Artemis II will utilize NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion spacecraft. The mission is designed to test critical systems and gather data essential for future lunar landings planned for 2028.
The launch window opens on April 1, with additional opportunities on April 3, 4, 5, and 6. If successful, Artemis II will mark a significant milestone in NASA's Artemis program, paving the way for sustained human exploration of the Moon and future missions to Mars.
