Published on Mar. 2, 2026
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NASA has announced that it is targeting March 6 as the launch date for the Artemis II mission, which will send four astronauts on a trip around the Moon. The mission will be the first crewed flight of the agency’s new Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, marking a major milestone in the Artemis program to return humans to the lunar surface.
Why it matters
The Artemis II mission is a critical step towards NASA’s goal of establishing a sustainable human presence on and around the Moon. This uncrewed flight will pave the way for future Artemis missions that will land astronauts on the lunar surface, advancing scientific research and exploration of Earth’s natural satellite.
The details
The Artemis II crew will consist of commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. They will follow a free-return trajectory around the Moon, traveling farther from Earth than any human has gone in more than 50 years. While they will not land on the lunar surface, the mission will test key systems and capabilities needed for future Artemis missions.
NASA is targeting March 6, 2026 for the Artemis II launch.The astronauts will enter pre-flight medical quarantine on Friday, March 1, 2026.The crew will fly to the Kennedy Space Center on March 1, 2026 to begin final launch preparations.
The players
Reid Wiseman
Commander of the Artemis II mission.
Victor Glover
Pilot of the Artemis II mission.
Christina Koch
Mission specialist on the Artemis II mission.
Jeremy Hansen
Canadian astronaut on the Artemis II mission.
Lori Glaze
Manager of NASA’s Moon-to-Mars Program.
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What they’re saying
“Following that successful wet dress yesterday, we’re now targeting March 6 as our earliest launch attempt. I am going to caveat that. I want to be open, transparent with all of you that there is still pending work.”
— Lori Glaze, Manager of NASA’s Moon-to-Mars Program
“Obviously, yesterday was a really good day for us. I thought the test went extremely well.”
— John Honeycutt, Chairman of NASA’s Artemis II mission management team
What’s next
NASA will conduct a detailed analysis of the successful wet dress rehearsal countdown and carry out a comprehensive flight readiness review before giving the final go-ahead for the Artemis II launch on March 6.
The takeaway
The Artemis II mission represents a major milestone in NASA’s Artemis program, paving the way for future crewed missions to the lunar surface and the establishment of a sustainable human presence on and around the Moon. The successful fueling test and the targeting of a March 6 launch date demonstrate the agency’s progress in developing the capabilities needed to achieve these ambitious goals.