NASA is moving into the final days before its first crewed mission around the Moon in more than half a century, targeting liftoff for Artemis II as early as April 1, with a launch window extending through April 6, 2026. The Space Launch System (SLS)—a 32‑story booster described as the agency’s most powerful rocket to date—is secured on Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center.
Forecasters see strong odds of favorable weather. Teams are closing out remaining checks. Mission Pilot Victor Glover cautioned that the schedule remains subject to change, saying, “That’s this business. It will go when the engines light at T‑zero, and we totally understand that.” He noted there are still “a few weather updates and a few technical details to sort out before the launch window opens,” according to BBC News.
First woman around the moon
The 10‑day mission will send four astronauts on a sweeping loop around the Moon and back, marking the first time a woman, a person of color, and a non‑American have traveled to lunar distance. The crew comprises Commander Reid Wiseman, Glover as pilot, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Colonel Jeremy Hansen.
Glover will become the first Black astronaut to venture around the Moon’s vicinity. Koch will become the first woman. Hansen will become the first non‑American—and the first Canadian—to fly beyond low Earth orbit. The crew members have emphasized that their participation is intended to open doors for others, with an emphasis on international cooperation and representation that reflects the societies they serve.
As the inaugural crewed test of the SLS and the Orion deep‑space capsule, Artemis II is designed to wring out critical systems in deep space ahead of future landings. Along the way, the crew is prepared to evaluate different scenarios, including testing manual flight control of Orion.
Farther than ever before
The crew aims to travel farther from Earth than any astronauts before, surpassing the roughly 400,000 kilometers (250,000 miles) reached by Apollo 13. Orion’s plunge back through the atmosphere is set to exceed Apollo 10’s reentry speed, positioning it for the fastest crewed spacecraft return on record. The flight will conclude with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. The mission remains a test flight, and the team has acknowledged the inherent risks of flying a spacecraft that has never before carried humans, including the realities of living and working for 10 days in a volume comparable to a minibus.
Previous technical issues
NASA has worked through technical issues since the uncrewed Artemis I and more recent preparations. Hydrogen fuel leaks and a clogged helium pressurization line previously forced the SLS stack back to the Vehicle Assembly Building, but managers say those faults have been corrected, and subsequent checkouts have shown the rocket performing well.
Engineers also scrutinized unexpected heat‑shield erosion on Orion’s prior flight. Program leaders say they have full confidence in the capsule’s thermal protection for this mission. Boeing is the prime contractor for the SLS core stage, Northrop Grumman provides the solid‑fuel boosters, and Lockheed Martin builds the Orion spacecraft.
Spaceflight experience
The astronauts bring deep spaceflight and operations experience to the test. Wiseman has logged 165 days in orbit and conducted two spacewalks. Glover piloted the first operational Crew Dragon mission to the International Space Station in 2020–21, spending 168 days in orbit and completing four spacewalks. Koch spent 328 days aboard the ISS in 2019–20, conducting six spacewalks, including the first three all‑female excursions.
Koch framed the mission as one stage in a larger effort. “We are in a relay race: we only succeed if the subsequent missions also succeed,” she said, according to Reuters.