Artemis II Rocket Launch Visible Across Florida

Crowds gather to witness historic NASA mission takeoff from Cape Canaveral

Apr. 1, 2026 at 10:26pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Thousands of spectators flocked to Titusville, Florida, on the state's east coast to witness the highly anticipated launch of NASA's Artemis II mission, the first crewed flight of the agency's new Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft. The historic liftoff from Cape Canaveral was visible across much of the Sunshine State.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission marks a major milestone in NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon for the first time since the Apollo era. The successful launch of this uncrewed test flight paves the way for the first crewed lunar landing in over 50 years, reigniting public interest in space exploration.

The details

The Artemis II rocket lifted off from Launch Complex 39B at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 5:04 pm EDT on Wednesday, April 1st. The 322-foot-tall Space Launch System rocket carried the uncrewed Orion spacecraft on a 10-day journey around the Moon, testing key systems ahead of the first crewed Artemis mission planned for 2024.

  • The Artemis II launch occurred on Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at 5:04 pm EDT.
  • The Orion spacecraft is scheduled to return to Earth and splash down in the Pacific Ocean on April 11, 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 human presence on and around the Moon by the end of the 2020s.

Space Launch System (SLS)

NASA's new heavy-lift launch vehicle, designed to be the most powerful rocket in the world and capable of sending humans and large payloads to the Moon and beyond.

Orion Spacecraft

NASA's new deep space exploration vehicle, designed to carry astronauts to the Moon, Mars, and beyond as part of the Artemis program.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This is a historic day for NASA and the Artemis program. We're one step closer to returning humans to the lunar surface.”

— Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator

“Seeing the Artemis II rocket light up the sky was an incredible experience. I'm excited to follow the rest of this mission as we pave the way for future crewed flights to the Moon.”

— Sarah Johnson, Titusville resident

What’s next

The Orion spacecraft is scheduled to return to Earth and splash down in the Pacific Ocean on April 11, 2026, completing the Artemis II mission. NASA will then prepare for the first crewed Artemis mission, targeting a launch in 2024.

The takeaway

The successful launch of Artemis II represents a major milestone in NASA's ambitious plan to return humans to the Moon, reigniting public interest in space exploration and paving the way for future crewed missions to the lunar surface.