Artemis II: NASA Prepares for Historic Lunar Mission | Launch Updates

March 31, 2026 Rachel Kim – Technology Editor Technology

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida – NASA is in the final stages of preparation for the launch of Artemis II, the first crewed mission to orbit the Moon in over 50 years. The launch is currently scheduled for no earlier than April 1, 2026, from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with a two-hour launch window opening at 5:24 p.m. Central time.

The Artemis II mission will carry a crew of four: NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Hammock Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The crew arrived at the launch site and recently shared a Moon mascot, signaling a final push toward launch. The mission will test the Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, demonstrating the capabilities needed for future deep space exploration, including eventual missions to Mars.

This 10-day flight will not land on the Moon, but will send the Orion capsule around the lunar far side, reaching a maximum distance of approximately 280,000 miles from Earth. A key objective is to test Orion’s life support systems and ensure the spacecraft can maintain a habitable environment for astronauts during extended deep space missions. Astronauts will practice configuring the spacecraft once in orbit and preparing for their return to Earth, including suiting up in entry pressure suits.

Living conditions aboard Orion will be austere. The crew will rely on sleeping bags and shelf-stable food, and will forgo showers during the mission. As astronaut Reid Wiseman described it, the experience will be akin to camping, but within the confines of a little capsule. The Orion spacecraft, named Integrity by its crew, completed a major stacking milestone in October 2025, being lifted atop the SLS rocket in the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center.

The Artemis II mission builds upon the success of the uncrewed Artemis I flight in 2022. NASA reports that the launch mission countdown has begun, and weather conditions are currently 80% favorable. Final preparations are underway, with NASA officials stating the mission is in “excellent form.”

The mission represents a significant step in NASA’s long-term goal of establishing a sustainable presence on the Moon and utilizing it as a stepping stone for future exploration. The Orion spacecraft is designed to carry crews to the Moon and eventually to Mars, and Artemis II is a critical test of its capabilities.