NASA Clears Artemis Moon Rocket for April Launch with Four Astronauts

Space agency completes repairs, sets sights on first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 10:04am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

NASA has cleared its Artemis moon rocket for an April launch with four astronauts onboard, following the completion of the latest round of repairs. The 322-foot rocket will roll out to the launch pad next week at Florida's Kennedy Space Center, setting the stage for a launch attempt as early as April 1. This will mark humanity's first trip to the moon in more than 50 years.

Why it matters

The Artemis program represents NASA's ambitious plan to return humans to the lunar surface, paving the way for future long-term exploration and potential lunar settlements. This upcoming mission will be a crucial test flight, as the space agency has not launched a crewed mission to the moon since the Apollo program ended in 1972.

The details

The Artemis II crew was originally slated to launch earlier this year, but fuel leaks and other technical issues with the Space Launch System rocket caused delays. NASA has now resolved the hydrogen fuel leaks and addressed a helium-flow problem, allowing the rocket to be rolled back to the launch pad. The agency has a six-day window at the beginning of April to attempt the launch, after which it will stand down until late April or early May.

  • The Artemis II crew was originally scheduled to launch earlier this year.
  • NASA completed repairs on the rocket and will roll it out to the launch pad next week.
  • The launch attempt is currently targeted for as early as April 1, 2026.

The players

NASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and space research.

Artemis Program

NASA's program to return humans to the Moon, with the goal of establishing a sustainable lunar presence and using the Moon as a stepping stone for future deep space exploration.

Space Launch System (SLS)

NASA's powerful new rocket designed to launch the Orion spacecraft and other payloads to the Moon and beyond.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It's a test flight and it is not without risk, but our team and our hardware are ready.”

— Lori Glaze, NASA Official (wsvn.com)

“It's not the first flight. But we're also not in a regular cadence. So we definitely have significantly more risk than a flight system that's flying all the time.”

— Lori Glaze, NASA Official (wsvn.com)

What’s next

The Artemis II crew is scheduled to launch as early as April 1, 2026, marking humanity's first trip to the moon in over 50 years. NASA has a six-day window at the beginning of April to attempt the launch, after which it will stand down until late April or early May.

The takeaway

The upcoming Artemis II mission represents a major milestone in NASA's ambitious plan to return humans to the lunar surface. While the mission carries inherent risks as a test flight, the successful launch and completion of this mission will pave the way for future Artemis missions and the establishment of a sustainable human presence on the Moon.