NASA's Artemis II Mission Set for Historic Lunar Flyby
NASA's Artemis II mission is scheduled to launch on April 1, 2026, marking the first crewed lunar flyby since 1972.
NASA is preparing to launch Artemis II, the first crewed lunar mission since 1972, on April 1, 2026. The mission will carry four astronauts—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen—on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back to Earth.
The Artemis II crew arrived at Kennedy Space Center on March 27, 2026, to finalize preparations. The mission will utilize the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion spacecraft, both of which have undergone extensive testing to ensure readiness for this historic flight.
The launch window opens at 6:24 p.m. EDT on April 1, with favorable weather conditions anticipated. If successful, Artemis II will pave the way for future missions aimed at establishing a sustained human presence on the Moon and eventually Mars.
