FL - NASA to launch Artemis II crew on flight around the moon this week - April 2026

[sds71]

NASA astronauts could be just days away from blasting off towards the moon for the first time since 1972, when Apollo astronaut Eugene Cernan took his last steps in the gray lunar dust.

As soon as Wednesday, a four-person crew could launch on a mission to fly around the moon in an Orion capsule that's currently perched at the top of a 322-foot, orange-and-white rocket waiting at Kennedy Space Center in Florida…

The crew's first launch opportunity will come on April 1, at 6:24 p.m EDT. Mission managers have several more launch opportunities through April 6.

This will be the first launch in NASA's Artemis moon program that includes a crew.

Over three years ago, during the Artemis I test flight in November and December of 2022, NASA put an Orion capsule through its paces without astronauts on board. That capsule went on a looping trip around the moon that lasted over three weeks and covered over a million miles before splashing back down in the Pacific

This time around, the astronauts will first orbit Earth so that they can check out key systems on their spacecraft, including life support, communication, and navigation.

If everything goes as planned, they'll fire their vehicle's propulsion system to send themselves on a looping figure-eight path around the moon and back, a deep space journey that will take them more than 230,000 miles away from Earth. It will take several days to get out to the moon, and the entire mission is expected to last about ten days.

https://www.npr.org/2026/03/30/nx-s1-5698159/nasa-artemis-ii-astronauts-moon-return-this-week

NASA to launch Artemis II crew on flight around the moon this week. Here's everything to know about the mission.

NASA is poised to launch four astronauts April 1 on a historic nine-day trip around the moon and back. Here's everything to know about the Artemis II mission.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[PrairieWind]

I am so excited for this. I don't know why there isn't more coverage.

 

[LadyL]

One of the astronauts is from my area.

 

[PrairieWind]

Looks like everything is still "go." Some chance of weather interference.
We all need something positive in the news for a change.

 

[Gemmie]

Not a fan of this because of the reasons they are doing it. Sure, it's cool to visit the moon, and I like that and find it interesting, but they are hoping to one day colonize the moon/Mars for humans to live on. Why? (and this is the reason why I'm not thrilled about this)... because some people (Elon comes to mind, and there are others IMO) who think that we'll need to live there as Earth will become uninhabitable.

(too many) People (IMO) are really messing up this planet. Climate change, which is spawning off other issues I won't go in to here as it's off topic, but in a nutshell they are going back to the moon to learn how we can live off it and eventually colonize it and/or Mars.

I've been hearing them discuss that the past 2 nights in a row on Bloomberg TV (financial news) so this thread interested me when I saw it created.

Below is a short video clip from Bloomberg talking about exactly that. I have a quote below that started about 1 min in. There was more after this. I didn't quote the entire clip.

"There's a lot that NASA hopes to gain from the moon. There's this idea of jumpstarting a lunar economy. So finding ways to make money off the moon. Possibly for an economy around the moon. And then, of course, it's learning how to live off another planetary body. That's no small feat. And eventually the goal is to get to Mars. And so learning to live off the surface of the moon, those lessons can then be applied to Mars living some day."

 

[PrairieWind]

Not a fan of this because of the reasons they are doing it. Sure, it's cool to visit the moon, and I like that and find it interesting, but they are hoping to one day colonize the moon/Mars for humans to live on. Why? (and this is the reason why I'm not thrilled about this)... because some people (Elon comes to mind, and there are others IMO) who think that we'll need to live there as Earth will become uninhabitable.

(too many) People (IMO) are really messing up this planet. Climate change, which is spawning off other issues I won't go in to here as it's off topic, but in a nutshell they are going back to the moon to learn how we can live off it and eventually colonize it and/or Mars.

I've been hearing them discuss that the past 2 nights in a row on Bloomberg TV (financial news) so this thread interested me when I saw it created.

Below is a short video clip from Bloomberg talking about exactly that. I have a quote below that started about 1 min in. There was more after this. I didn't quote the entire clip.

"There's a lot that NASA hopes to gain from the moon. There's this idea of jumpstarting a lunar economy. So finding ways to make money off the moon. Possibly for an economy around the moon. And then, of course, it's learning how to live off another planetary body. That's no small feat. And eventually the goal is to get to Mars. And so learning to live off the surface of the moon, those lessons can then be applied to Mars living some day."

You are against space exploration? I just don't understand. Why?
Your statements about humans making a mess of this planet, But no one is willing to actually confront the PRC about it emissions. So until you are ready to do so, AND back it up with force, no one cares. Human kind is moving on, and the USA is leading that charge. I seem to feel that that is what bothers you. The Moon will eventually be exploited for resources. Why would it not?

 

[Gemmie]

You are against space exploration? I just don't understand. Why?

No. You missed my point (I think. ) I'm against giving up on our planet and wanting to colonize others because this one is being ruined. That is JMO

 

[PrairieWind]

No. You missed my point (I think. ) I'm against giving up on our planet and wanting to colonize others because this one is being ruined. That is JMO

But who is giving up on our planet? Space exploration isn't about giving up. I suspect I know what you are referring to, and I think you misunderstand the plan.

 

[Fraize]

There are a couple of YouTube channels from which you can watch the launch today. The first is just the live view from the Kennedy Space Center.

The second is the official broadcast where they'll have live commentary, and more views of the spacecraft.

Estimated launch time as of this moment is 6:24pm ET (22:24 UTC - Click the link to convert to your local time).

 

[Ontario Mom]

One of the astronauts is from my area.

Same Pretty wild one of the guys going to the moon lives a half an hour away from me.

 

[PrairieWind]

We have this on in our office today. Very exciting. This is a huge deal.

 

[PrairieWind]

Same Pretty wild one of the guys going to the moon lives a half an hour away from me.

And very soon he will be one of the people that is furthest any human has been away from planet Earth. Wild, isn't it? I can't imagine the excitement that these astronauts are feeling right now. Anxious? of course. Scared? Probably some. Nervous? yes, just want to do their best. I am sure they all just want to get this going. The waiting is the worst part. I'm sure they just want to get to space and let the mission play out.

 

[Curiousobserver]

But who is giving up on our planet? Space exploration isn't about giving up. I suspect I know what you are referring to, and I think you misunderstand the plan.

Eventually, a planet wide disaster will occur that will make the Earth uninhabitable, at least for a period of time for some (or all) life. And it will be a complete surprise. We will need to leave this place to survive, so the sooner we learn how to do that the better.

Besides, the restaurant at the end of the universe gives out free pie to Earthlings.

 

[PrairieWind]

Eventually, a planet wide disaster will occur that will make the Earth uninhabitable, at least for a period of time for some (or all) life. And it will be a complete surprise. We will need to leave this place to survive, so the sooner we learn how to do that the better.

Besides, the restaurant at the end of the universe gives out free pie to Earthlings.

Moon pie? I'm in for that.

 

[arielilane]

We're going around the Moon. Come watch with us. Artemis II's four-astronaut crew is lifting off from @NASAKennedy
on an approximately 10-day mission that will bring us closer to living on the Moon and Mars. The launch window opens at 6:24pm ET (2224 UTC).

https://twitter.com/x/status/2039387543544758736

 

[arielilane]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2039400991188046033

 

[arielilane]

Live: NASA's Artemis 2 mission launches with four astronauts on a loop around the moon and back

Watch live coverage as

NASA launches its mammoth Space Launch System rocket with four astronauts on a mission to loop around the moon and back. Liftoff of Artemis 2 from pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center is scheduled during a launch window that opens at 6:24 p.m. EDT (2224 UTC).

NASA astronaut and mission commander Reid Wiseman leads the crew, which includes fellow NASA astronauts Victor Glover and Christina Koch along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

The SLS rocket will take an easterly trajectory on departure from Florida's Space Coast.

Our live coverage of the final countdown and launch with commentary from Spaceflight Now's Will Robinson-Smith will start soon after the completion of fueling.

 

[Vaderman]

Artemis II Launch Live Updates: NASA Astronauts Count Down to Moon Mission Liftoff

The crew of four — three Americans and one Canadian — are now scheduled to launch at 6:35 p.m. Eastern on the first crewed journey to the moon since 1972. But they will not land there on this mission.

www.nytimes.com

The countdown clock is holding at 10 minutes as NASA works through some issues. That means the launch will not occur at 6:24 p.m., but there is still plenty of time remaining in the two-hour window.

 

[MsMarple]

Female launch director!

 

[Vaderman]

Countdown hasn't started back up yet, but:

Artemis II Launch Live Updates: NASA Astronauts Count Down to Moon Mission Liftoff

The crew of four — three Americans and one Canadian — are now scheduled to launch at 6:35 p.m. Eastern on the first crewed journey to the moon since 1972. But they will not land there on this mission.

www.nytimes.com

Artemis II is a go for launch.