NASA Readies Artemis II Crew For Moon Flyby
Four astronauts will orbit the Moon on Artemis II to test Orion systems and pave the way for future lunar landings and sustained lunar presence.
BBC NewsArtemis II: Why is Nasa sending people back to the Moon?
CBS NewsArtemis II astronauts say they're "ready to go" for moon launch ahead of 49-hour countdown
Straight Arrow NewsNASA says astronauts ready for first Moon mission in more than 50 years
Scientific AmericanNASA astronauts are counting down to the Artemis II moon launch
Overview
NASA officials said preparations for Artemis II are nearing completion and the launch could take place as soon as April 1.
Artemis II is the first crewed mission of the Artemis program and will carry four astronauts on a roughly 10-day high-speed loop around the Moon to test Orion systems.
Acting associate administrator Lori Glaze told reporters, "We are getting very, very close and we are ready," and astronauts said they were isolated in medical quarantine and "ready to go."
The Artemis program has cost about $93 billion to date and relies on Boeing for the SLS core stage, Northrop Grumman for boosters and Lockheed Martin for the Orion spacecraft, officials said.
Officials said the 49-hour, 40-minute countdown is set to begin at 4:44 p.m. ET Monday and could lead to launch at 6:24 p.m. Wednesday, with a Pacific splashdown near San Diego on April 10.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame Artemis as a slower, more complicated successor to Apollo by emphasizing delays, technical setbacks and commercial competition while noting greater diversity. Editorial choices—loaded descriptors like "plodding approach" and placement of SLS leak details—create that narrative. Quotes from astronauts (e.g., Christina Koch) are source content, not editorial framing.
FAQ
The crew consists of Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch from NASA, and Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
Launch is targeted for no earlier than 6:24 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, with a two-hour window and additional opportunities through April 6.
Artemis II is the first crewed mission of the Artemis program, sending four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon to test the Orion spacecraft's systems, including life support, for future lunar landings.
The mission relies on Boeing for the SLS core stage, Northrop Grumman for boosters, and Lockheed Martin for the Orion spacecraft.
