NASA is aiming for an April 1 liftoff of the Artemis II mission, setting the stage for the first crewed voyage around the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972. Agency officials announced the target date following a successful Flight Readiness Review on March 12, 2026, declaring the program "on track" for the historic 10-day test flight.

NASA Targets April 1 Launch for Artemis II, First Crewed
NASA Targets April 1 Launch for Artemis II, First Crewed Moon Mission in Over 50 Years

The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, topped with the Orion spacecraft, is scheduled to roll out from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Complex 39B as early as March 19, weather and final checkouts permitting. The initial launch window opens at 6:24 p.m. EDT (2224 UTC) on April 1, with backup opportunities on April 2 at 7:22 p.m. EDT, April 3, 4, 5, 6 and 30. Mission planners added the April 2 slot recently to expand flexibility amid ongoing preparations.

Lori Glaze, associate administrator for NASA's Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, emphasized confidence in the timeline during a post-review news conference. "We are on track for a launch as early as April 1, and we are working toward that date," she said. "I am comfortable and the agency is comfortable with targeting April 1 as our first opportunity, just keep in mind we still have work to go."

The mission follows extensive troubleshooting after issues during earlier wet dress rehearsals, including a hydrogen leak and helium flow problems in the interim cryogenic propulsion stage. Teams repaired those anomalies in the Vehicle Assembly Building, leading to the unanimous "go" vote in the risk assessment. Officials stressed that all hardware and systems are now cleared for crewed flight, with remaining tasks focused on final integration, fueling preparations and pad operations.

Artemis II will carry four astronauts: NASA Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The crew will ride Orion on a free-return trajectory, looping around the Moon at a distance of about 6,400 miles (10,300 kilometers) from its surface before returning to Earth. No landing is planned; the flight tests deep-space systems, life support, radiation protection and reentry capabilities critical for future landings.

The mission builds directly on the uncrewed Artemis I flight in 2022, which successfully demonstrated SLS and Orion in lunar orbit. Recent heat shield evaluations from that test showed expected charring but no major concerns, bolstering confidence for crewed operations. NASA has incorporated lessons learned, including enhanced monitoring of the Orion heat shield and propulsion systems.

Broader Artemis program adjustments announced in late February 2026 aim to accelerate lunar exploration. NASA added an additional mission in 2027 and plans at least one crewed surface landing annually thereafter, standardizing vehicle configurations to increase cadence. While Artemis III, the first lunar landing attempt, now targets 2027, officials noted some Artemis III objectives may shift forward to support faster progress.

The SLS Block 1 configuration for Artemis II stands as the most powerful rocket ever built, generating 8.8 million pounds of thrust at liftoff. Orion's European Service Module, provided by ESA, supplies power, propulsion and life support. International partnerships remain central, with Hansen's inclusion highlighting Canada's contributions.

Public interest surges as the launch nears. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex offers viewing packages valid for any attempt in the April window. NASA encourages global tracking via the Artemis Real-time Orbit Website (AROW), which will display Orion's position relative to Earth and the Moon starting shortly after liftoff.

Challenges persist in the program timeline. Concerns about SpaceX's Starship development for Artemis lunar lander duties have surfaced, with potential delays to surface missions noted by senior officials. However, Artemis II remains insulated as a crewed test independent of landing hardware.

If successful, the flight paves the way for Artemis III's landing and eventual sustained presence at the Moon, supporting scientific research, resource utilization and preparation for human missions to Mars. The April window aligns with favorable orbital mechanics, though any scrub would push to backups within the month.

As rollout preparations intensify, NASA teams conduct final simulations and inspections. Agency leaders express optimism that decades of development will culminate in humanity's return to the lunar vicinity with crew aboard.