NASA Begins Countdown for Artemis II Moon Mission

The four-person crew will test the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft on a 10-day journey around the lunar surface.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 2:03am

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A highly structured, geometric abstract painting in earthy tones of brown, ochre, and sage green, depicting sweeping arcs, concentric circles, and precise spirals that represent the complex technological systems and natural forces involved in the Artemis II moon mission.An abstract visualization of the intricate systems and forces at play in NASA's Artemis II mission, the next step in humanity's return to the lunar surface.Cape Canaveral Today

NASA has started the two-day countdown to the launch of the Artemis II mission, which will send a crew of four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the moon. The mission is the next step in the agency's goal of returning humans to the lunar surface and establishing a permanent presence there. The crew, consisting of Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Pilot Victor Glover, are currently in quarantine and will board the Orion spacecraft on launch day to conduct final checks before liftoff.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission is a critical milestone in NASA's ambitious Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the moon. This uncrewed test flight will validate the performance of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, paving the way for future Artemis missions that will land astronauts on the lunar surface. The successful completion of Artemis II will be a significant step forward in humanity's return to the moon.

The details

The Artemis II launch window opens at 6:24 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, March 31, 2026. NASA officials have stated that the only concern at this point is the weather, with the forecast currently offering an 80% chance of favorable conditions. The 10-day mission will take the crew farther from Earth than any human has traveled before. After a wet dress rehearsal in February revealed an issue with a helium valve, the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft were returned to the Vehicle Assembly Building for repairs. The vehicle was then rolled back out to the launch pad on March 19, and the mission management team has now given the green light to proceed with the countdown.

  • The two-day countdown to the Artemis II launch began on Monday, March 30, 2026.
  • The Artemis II launch window opens at 6:24 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, March 31, 2026.
  • The crew arrived in Cape Canaveral on Friday, March 28, 2026, to begin their final preparations.

The players

Jeremy Hansen

Mission Specialist for the Artemis II mission.

Christina Koch

Mission Specialist for the Artemis II mission.

Reid Wiseman

Commander of the Artemis II mission.

Victor Glover

Pilot for the Artemis II mission.

Amit Kshatriya

NASA's Associate Administrator, who provided updates on the mission's progress during a media briefing.

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What they’re saying

“The team concluded that everything continues to look good and there are no issues preventing us from pressing ahead.”

— Amit Kshatriya, NASA's Associate Administrator

“At this point, as we enter the pre-launch phase, we are in a strong posture and the mission remains on track.”

— Amit Kshatriya, NASA's Associate Administrator

What’s next

The Artemis II crew will board the Orion spacecraft at 2:00 p.m. EDT on launch day to conduct final communication system checks and configure the crew module before the final countdown to liftoff.

The takeaway

The successful completion of the Artemis II mission will be a major milestone in NASA's ambitious Artemis program, paving the way for future crewed missions to the lunar surface and the establishment of a sustainable human presence on the moon.