Today marks a historic moment as humanity prepares to return to the Moon for the first time in over 50 years! NASA’s Artemis II crew is ready to launch on their space launch today aboard the mighty Space Launch System rocket.
Launch
Agency
Country
Space Launch System — Artemis II
| Agency | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| Rocket | Space Launch System (SLS) Block 1 |
| Payload | Human exploration mission with Orion spacecraft |
| Orbit | Lunar flyby |
| Launch Site | Launch Complex 39B, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA |
| Time (UTC) | April 1, 2026 at 22:24 |
| Status | GO – All systems ready for launch |
This mission will make history as the first crewed lunar mission since Apollo 17 in December 1972. The four astronauts will spend more than nine days traveling around the Moon before returning safely to Earth. According to Spaceflight Now, the crew is “poised to pass the distance record for human spaceflight.”
The mission serves as a crucial test of NASA’s Orion spacecraft systems, especially the life support equipment that couldn’t be fully tested during the uncrewed Artemis I flight. According to NASA, this mission will verify all systems needed for future Moon landings under the Artemis program.
Crew
Gregory R. Wiseman (Spacecraft Commander), Victor J. Glover (Pilot), Jeremy Hansen (Mission Specialist – Canadian Space Agency), and Christina Koch (Mission Specialist). This crew represents both American and Canadian space agencies working together.
What to Watch For
- The massive 111-meter tall SLS rocket producing 39,000 kN of thrust at liftoff – more powerful than the Saturn V
- First humans to travel beyond Earth orbit since the Apollo era, venturing into deep space radiation
- Live coverage beginning hours before the evening launch window at Kennedy Space Center
This launch represents more than just a rocket launch – it’s humanity’s first step back toward the Moon and eventually Mars. As Ars Technica notes, “NASA is finally on a better course” after years of delays and technical challenges with the Artemis program.
Sources & Credibility
-
100/100
NASA Releases Artemis II Moon Mission Launch Countdown
— NASA · Government Agency · Official U.S. government space agency — primary source for NASA missions
Scoring factors: Government accountability (+); Peer-reviewed data (+); Official mission authority (+); Taxpayer-funded transparency requirements (+); Primary source for all NASA programs (+) -
100/100
NASA Sets Coverage for Artemis II Moon Mission
— NASA · Government Agency · Official U.S. government space agency — primary source for NASA missions
Scoring factors: Government accountability (+); Peer-reviewed data (+); Official mission authority (+); Taxpayer-funded transparency requirements (+); Primary source for all NASA programs (+) -
100/100
Artemis II: ‘s First Crewed Lunar Flyby in 50 Years
— NASA · Government Agency · Official NASA mission page
Scoring factors: Official mission documentation (+); Government transparency (+); Primary source authority (+) -
88/100
Live coverage: NASA to launch Artemis 2, its first Moon-bound mission with astronauts since 1972
— Spaceflight Now · Space Journalism · Veteran spaceflight journalism outlet — detailed launch coverage since 1999
Scoring factors: 25+ year track record (+); Dedicated launch correspondents (+); Technical depth (+); Independent editorial (+) -
86/100
This is my third Orion launch, but it feels totally different
— Ars Technica · General News · Respected technology publication with dedicated space desk (Eric Berger)
Scoring factors: Pulitzer-adjacent journalism (+); Dedicated space reporter (+); Technical accuracy (+); Conde Nast owned (+)