NASA's Artemis II Prepares for Crewed Moon Mission Launch

The historic flight will send four astronauts on a 10-day trip to the lunar surface.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 3:57pm

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NASA's Artemis II mission is set to launch on Wednesday evening from Cape Canaveral, Florida, marking the first crewed flight to the moon in over 50 years. The four-person crew, including Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Pilot Victor Glover, are preparing for liftoff at 6:24 p.m. EDT. The rocket is fueled and ready, with NASA's only concern being the weather, which is currently expected to be suitable for launch.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission is a major milestone in NASA's Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the moon. This crewed flight will travel farther from Earth than any previous human spaceflight, paving the way for future lunar exploration and potential long-term lunar habitation.

The details

The Artemis II mission will last 10 days and will see the four astronauts orbit the moon, but not land on the lunar surface. This mission follows the uncrewed Artemis I flight that took place in 2022. NASA is closely monitoring the weather, particularly wind conditions, to ensure a safe launch. If the Wednesday launch is postponed, there are additional launch opportunities through April 6.

  • The Artemis II mission is set to launch on Wednesday, April 2, 2026 at 6:24 p.m. EDT.
  • The Artemis I uncrewed mission took place in 2022.

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.

Jeremy Hansen

A Canadian astronaut and Mission Specialist on the Artemis II mission.

Christina Koch

An American astronaut and Mission Specialist on the Artemis II mission.

Reid Wiseman

An American astronaut and Commander of the Artemis II mission.

Victor Glover

An American astronaut and Pilot of the Artemis II mission.

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What they’re saying

“Everything is going very well right now.”

— Jeremy Graeber, Artemis Assistant Launch Director

“Wind is a potential foil, though. We're doing real-time monitoring via multiple methods.”

— Mark Burger, Launch Weather Officer

What’s next

If the Wednesday launch is postponed, there are additional launch opportunities through April 6.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission represents a major milestone in NASA's efforts to return humans to the moon, paving the way for future long-term lunar exploration and habitation. The successful launch of this crewed mission will be a significant achievement for the space agency and the international space community.