Artemis 2 Launch Date 2026: Mission Details, Crew, and Delays

For the first time in over half a century, humans are about to leave low Earth orbit on a trip around the Moon. NASA’s Artemis II mission, scheduled for launch on April 1, 2026, will carry four astronauts on a lunar flyby—a critical step toward returning people to the lunar surface.

Scheduled launch date: April 1, 2026 ·
Launch window: 6:35 p.m. ET (22:35 UTC) ·
Crew size: 4 astronauts ·
Mission duration: ~10 days ·
Destination: Lunar flyby ·
Rocket: SLS Block 1 with Orion

The mission’s key numbers reveal a clear pattern: a tightly scheduled flight with built-in flexibility for safety. Below is the full fact table.

What is the next launch date for Artemis 2?

Current launch date and time

NASA has confirmed Artemis II will launch no earlier than April 1, 2026, at 6:35 p.m. ET (22:35 UTC) from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39B (NASA, the U.S. space agency). The launch window extends for approximately two hours, giving ground crews flexibility to handle weather or last-minute checks (Space.com, space news outlet).

Time zone conversions

• US Eastern (EDT): 6:35 p.m.
• UTC: 22:35
• London (BST): 11:35 p.m.
• Berlin (CEST): 12:35 a.m. (April 2)
• Tokyo (JST): 7:35 a.m. (April 2)

NASA also listed alternative launch dates including April 3 and April 4, 2026 (NASA mission availability PDF). The implication: while April 1 is the primary target, the agency has built-in backup opportunities to avoid scrubbing the mission entirely.

Why was Artemis 2 delayed again?

Technical issues with the SLS rocket

The Space Launch System’s core stage experienced issues that required additional testing, pushing the original 2024 target. NASA’s repeated delays came after engineers discovered anomalies during ground tests (BBC Sky at Night Magazine, astronomy publication).

Orion heat shield concerns

The Orion capsule’s heat shield—critical for re-entry—showed unexpected wear during Artemis I. NASA delayed the crewed flight to refine the shield’s performance (NASA). Originally planned for November 2024, then postponed to early 2025, the mission now sits at April 2026. The pattern: NASA consistently prioritizes crew safety over schedule, a stance that has drawn both praise and impatience.

How long will it take Artemis 2 to get to the Moon?

Mission timeline overview

Artemis II is a ~10-day mission covering roughly 1.3 million miles (NASA). After launch, the crew will spend about three days traveling to the Moon, perform a flyby at an altitude of approximately 130 km, then head back to Earth for a Pacific Ocean splashdown.

Lunar flyby and return

The flyby will take the astronauts around the far side of the Moon, giving them a view that only 24 people have ever witnessed. The return trajectory is designed for a splashdown off the coast of California, with recovery teams already rehearsing (NASA). The catch: a short mission means an intense, high-stakes flight for the crew, with no time for extended lunar science.

Will Artemis 2 carry humans?

Artemis 2 crew members

Yes—four astronauts will ride aboard Orion. The crew consists of Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen (NASA). Hansen, from the Canadian Space Agency, is the first non-American to fly a lunar mission.

Astronaut roles and backgrounds

• Reid Wiseman: Veteran NASA astronaut, former chief of the astronaut office.
• Victor Glover: Pilot of SpaceX Crew-1, experienced in long-duration ISS flights.
• Christina Koch: Holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman (328 days).
• Jeremy Hansen: Canadian Space Agency astronaut, making his first spaceflight.

This is the first crewed lunar mission since Apollo 17 in 1972. As Wiseman put it in a pre-launch briefing, “We’re ready to go.”

“Flying to the Moon is a dream come true, and we are honored to represent humanity on this journey.”

— Commander Reid Wiseman, in a pre-launch press conference

The implication: the crew is fully prepared, but the mission’s success hinges on flawless execution.

What will Artemis 4 be?

Artemis 3: lunar landing

Artemis III, scheduled after Artemis II, aims to land astronauts on the Moon’s South Pole using SpaceX’s Starship as the lander (Wikipedia, encyclopedia). It will be the first human landing since 1972.

Artemis 4: first lunar space station mission

Artemis IV will dock with the Lunar Gateway—a small space station in polar orbit around the Moon. This mission marks the beginning of a sustained human presence in lunar orbit, a stepping stone toward Mars (NASA). The trade-off: building Gateway adds years to the timeline but expands what’s possible beyond flags-and-footprints.

For the global space community, the Artemis II launch is a stepping stone—but the real test will be when Artemis III attempts to land on the lunar surface. The crew’s safe return will prove whether the decades-old hardware can once again carry humans beyond low Earth orbit.