NASA Rolls Out Artemis II Rocket for April Moon Mission
NASA has transported the Artemis II Space Launch System rocket to the launch pad, preparing for a crewed lunar flyby mission scheduled for early April.
NASA has transported the Artemis II Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft to Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, in preparation for a planned lunar flyby mission. The rollout commenced at 8:00 p.m. EDT on March 19, 2026, and took approximately 12 hours to complete.
The Artemis II mission, scheduled for no earlier than April 1, 2026, will be the first crewed flight of NASA's Artemis program. The 10-day mission will carry four astronauts—three from NASA and one from the Canadian Space Agency—on a journey around the Moon. This mission serves as a precursor to future lunar landings, including Artemis III and IV, which aim to test lunar landers and eventually establish a long-term human presence on the Moon.
Recent technical issues, including a helium flow problem, prompted NASA to conduct repairs and delay the launch from its initial March target. The agency has since addressed these concerns and is proceeding with final preparations.
The Artemis II crew entered quarantine on March 18, 2026, in Houston, as part of standard pre-flight procedures to ensure their health and safety ahead of the mission.