Moon Mission 2024: Launch Dates, Artemis II & Latest News

March 25, 2026 Rachel Kim – Technology Editor Technology

The Artemis II mission is slated to launch on April 12, 2026, with a crew of four astronauts, marking the first crewed flight of NASA’s Artemis program, officials confirmed this week after the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket was returned to the launch pad.

The mission will send astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen on a 10-day journey around the Moon. This flight represents a critical step toward establishing a sustained human presence on the lunar surface and preparing for future missions to Mars, according to NASA.

The SLS rocket arrived at Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center on March 21, 2026, following a period of final preparations, and testing. NASA is currently assessing the launch environment and has completed a rollout of the rocket and spacecraft. The agency previously paused the rollout process to address unforeseen issues, but ground teams have since resolved those challenges.

Artemis II will utilize the Orion spacecraft, which will carry the crew on its lunar trajectory. The mission will test the Orion’s life support systems and other critical components in the harsh environment of deep space. The flight path will take the crew approximately 280,000 miles from Earth, venturing beyond the orbit of the Moon before returning home.

The Artemis program, formally established in 2017, aims to land American astronauts on the Moon and maintain U.S. Leadership in space exploration. The program involves collaboration with international partners, including the European Space Agency (ESA), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and others. The Artemis Accords, established in 2020, outline principles for responsible lunar exploration.

The launch of Artemis II is expected to generate a significant economic impact on Florida’s Space Coast, potentially contributing $160 million to the local economy. The mission is anticipated to be visible from miles away, with the sound of the SLS rocket potentially audible across a wide area, according to local reports.

Names of individuals who submitted them through NASA’s “Send Your Name to Space” campaign will be flown on an SD card aboard the Orion spacecraft. The submission period for names has closed.

NASA has not yet announced a firm date for the first crewed landing on the lunar surface, but Artemis III is planned to follow Artemis II. The agency is continuing to develop the technologies and infrastructure necessary to support long-term lunar exploration.