NASA Artemis II Launch: Date, Time, Live Stream, and Moon Mission Details
NASA’s highly anticipated Artemis II mission is set to make history as the first crewed flight toward the Moon since the Apollo era. The mission is scheduled to launch on April 1, 2026, from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39B. The two-hour launch window opens at 6:24 PM EDT (3:24 IST on April 2), with backup opportunities planned daily through April 6 in case of weather or technical delays.
The Artemis II mission will be broadcast live worldwide. NASA+ and NASA TV will provide ad-free coverage starting at 12:50 PM EDT, and a livestream will also be available on YouTube. Fans can follow the countdown, spacecraft preparations, and close-up visuals of the Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System. NASA will additionally provide updates via its social media platforms.
This 10-day mission will test systems for future lunar exploration. Artemis II will enter high Earth orbit, allowing the crew to test life support and communication systems for the first 24 hours. The spacecraft will then travel toward the Moon on a free-return trajectory, loop around the Moon’s far side, and return to Earth. By mission end, Artemis II will have traveled approximately 685,000 miles, surpassing Apollo 13’s record of 248,000 miles from Earth. Splashdown is expected in the Pacific Ocean around April 10.
The crew comprises four astronauts: commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen. Koch will become the first woman to fly near the Moon, Glover the first person of color, and Hansen the first non-American in a lunar mission. While no landing will occur, Artemis II represents a critical step in NASA’s Artemis program and humanity’s return to deep space exploration.
