Artemis II mission prepares for liftoff

NASA's next-generation moon rocket set to launch in coming days

Mar. 31, 2026 at 4:13pm

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A bold, abstract painting in earthy tones depicting sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise spirals, conceptually representing the complex technological systems and forces involved in the Artemis II mission to the Moon.NASA's Artemis II mission, the first crewed flight of the agency's new deep space exploration systems, prepares to launch to the Moon in a historic step forward for the Artemis program.Cape Canaveral Today

NASA's Artemis II mission, the first crewed flight of the agency's new Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, is in the final stages of preparation ahead of its targeted liftoff from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida in the coming days.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission marks a major milestone in NASA's ambitious Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface for the first time since the Apollo era. The successful launch of Artemis II would pave the way for future Artemis missions, including the planned Artemis III mission that could see the first woman and first person of color walk on the moon.

The details

Engineers and technicians at the Kennedy Space Center are completing final pre-launch checks and fueling operations for the 322-foot-tall Space Launch System rocket that will propel the Orion spacecraft on its journey around the Moon. The uncrewed Artemis I mission successfully launched in late 2022, paving the way for this first crewed test flight of the new deep space exploration systems.

  • The Artemis II mission is targeted to launch in the coming days from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
  • Artemis I, the uncrewed test flight of the Space Launch System and Orion, successfully launched in November 2022.

The players

NASA

The United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the federal agency responsible for the nation's civilian space program, aeronautics research, and space exploration.

Artemis Program

NASA's program to return humans to the lunar surface, including the Artemis I, II, and III missions.

Space Launch System

NASA's new heavy-lift launch vehicle, designed to enable deep space exploration missions to the Moon and beyond.

Orion Spacecraft

NASA's new deep space exploration vehicle, designed to carry astronauts to the Moon, Mars, and other destinations beyond low-Earth orbit.

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What they’re saying

“The Artemis II mission is a critical step forward in our plans to establish a sustainable presence on the lunar surface. This flight will demonstrate the capabilities of our new deep space exploration systems and pave the way for future Artemis missions that will land astronauts on the Moon.”

— Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator

What’s next

Following a successful Artemis II mission, NASA plans to conduct the Artemis III mission, which could see the first woman and first person of color walk on the lunar surface as early as 2025.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission represents a major milestone in NASA's ambitious plans to return humans to the Moon, setting the stage for future Artemis missions that could make history by landing the first woman and first person of color on the lunar surface.