Countdown Begins for Artemis II Moon Flyby
Four astronauts aim to fly around the moon on a nine-day, nearly 700,000-mile Artemis II mission with liftoff targeted for the planned April 1 attempt and splashdown on April 10.
CBS NewsCountdown underway for long-awaited Artemis II moon mission
Scientific AmericanNASA starts countdown clock to historic Artemis II moon mission launch
PBS NewsHourWATCH: NASA holds news conference on Artemis II launch as 2-day countdown begins
CBS NewsNASA to launch Artemis II crew on flight around the moon this week. Here's everything to know about the mission.
Overview
Countdown clocks began ticking at 4:44 p.m. EDT Monday and NASA managers polled 'go' to proceed toward the planned April 1 launch attempt, associate administrator Amit Kshatriya said.
NASA began the countdown Monday for humanity's first launch to the moon in 53 years, with the 32-story Space Launch System rocket poised to blast off with four astronauts.
Launch Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson said the team is 'in excellent, excellent shape,' and Apollo-era engineers voiced excitement and frustration that returns took decades.
The mission will last nine days and one hour and cover nearly 700,000 miles, officials said.
If launched on the planned April 1 attempt, the crew will pass 4,100 miles above the lunar far side and splash down off southern California on April 10.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present this coverage neutrally, focusing on factual explanation and timelines rather than advocacy. They use descriptive language, attribute statements to NASA and companies, include competing commercial perspectives (SpaceX, Blue Origin), and acknowledge uncertainties and scheduling changes, minimizing loaded terms and editorialized conclusions.