The countdown continues at the Kennedy Space Center for the launch of Artemis II, which will send four astronauts to orbit the moon and return to the first lunar mission since 1972.
After a mission management team meeting on Monday, NASA Administrator Amit Kshatriya said Artemis II is ready for launch on Wednesday.
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The weather is now the only possible hindrance. The forecast shows an 80 percent chance of good conditions, with the main concerns being cloud cover and the possibility of strong winds, NASA said.
When will Artemis II launch?
At 6:24pm (22:24 GMT) on Wednesday, a two-hour window will open for the Artemis II mission to take off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The launch window will remain open until April 6 for two hours each day after sunset. The mission can only begin if the moon, orbital paths, weather conditions and the Earth’s rotation are in good order.
Artemis II has faced two major delays that have pushed it out of its original 2026 window.
In early February, the first test was canceled after a hydrogen leak was discovered during the countdown.
A second launch attempt in early March was canceled when engineers discovered a helium flow problem in the upper part of the rocket.
How to start watching
NASA will broadcast the announcement on YouTube, which has shown Artemis II since it was launched from the vehicle assembly building at Launch Pad 39.
What is NASA’s Artemis program?
The Artemis program is NASA’s multi-year plan to return humans to the moon for the first time since 1972, establish a long-term base there and ultimately allow future human missions to Mars.
The program is currently divided into five missions: Artemis I, II, III, IV and V.
Artemis I was the first unmanned test flight, launched on November 16, 2022, and lasted 25 days. It successfully placed the Orion spacecraft into Earth orbit and provided critical data for Artemis II.
What is Artemis II?
Artemis II is the first manned mission of the Artemis program. While Artemis I was an inactive test mission that carried only a mannequin and sensors, Artemis II will mark the first time since 1972 that astronauts have traveled above the Earth’s low orbit.
Will Artemis II land on the moon?
No. The four-person crew will not land on the moon but will instead fly around the moon, orbiting the far side of the moon before returning to Earth.
What is the purpose of the Artemis program?
At its core, Artemis II is a systems verification mission. NASA will use the spacecraft to test the Orion spacecraft’s life support systems, navigation, communications and general operations in deep space with the crew – conditions that cannot be fully replicated on Earth.
If successful, Artemis II will pave the way for Artemis III, a low-Earth mission; then Artemis IV, who aims to land astronauts on the moon; and future activities that could create a more sustainable human presence on Earth.
Here’s how Artemis II’s 10-day journey is planned:
How is Artemis different from Apollo?
In Greek mythology, Artemis is the twin of Apollo and the goddess of the moon. The name symbolizes the program’s connection to the original Apollo moon missions, which took place from 1961 to 1972.
The most notable of the Apollo missions was Apollo 11 when on July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the moon.
The last mission was Apollo 17 when Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt left the lunar surface on December 14, 1972, becoming the last humans to walk on the moon.
Who are the Artemis II scientists?
The project will take four astronauts:
- Reid Wiseman, 50, manager: A NASA veteran and former International Space Station commander leads the Artemis II mission. A pilot turned astronaut, he has deep leadership and aviation experience.
- Victor Glover, 49, pilot: The US Navy space shuttle is the first Black Man to be assigned to a lunar mission and flew with SpaceX Crew-1.
- Christina Koch, 47, mission specialist: The record holder for the longest solo space flight by a woman at 328 days is the discipline of most space travel and has expertise in scientific missions and deep space.
- Jeremy Hansen, 50, missionary: Canada’s first man on the moon is a former fighter pilot and represents international cooperation in deep space exploration.
How will the Artemis team do during the mission?
During the flight, the four astronauts will test the spacecraft, test their responses to radiation and onboard fires, and perform a stress suit test.
They will also conduct medical and scientific experiments and thoroughly explore the lunar surface during the flight.
Why is NASA going back to the moon?
A goal reflects broad long-term goals. NASA plans to establish a permanent human presence on and around the moon, especially near the south side of the moon, where water ice is believed to exist.
This is seen as a step towards future human missions to Mars. At the same time, Artemis is moving forward in a broader political context as the United States seeks to maintain leadership in space exploration amid growing competition, particularly from China.
When are the next Artemis activities?
Artemis III – 2027
NASA recently changed the mission status of Artemis III. The mission, scheduled for next year, will no longer land on the moon but will send crews into low Earth orbit, where it will test joint operations between the Orion spacecraft and one or two commercial astronauts from SpaceX and Blue Origin.
Artemis IV – early 2028
The plan is to be the first landing on the moon since Apollo 17. NASA plans to send its crew to orbit the moon and its two astronauts to the south side of the moon.
Artemis V – end of 2028
With this mission, NASA is planning the landing of a second crewed moon and the launch of a lunar base.
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