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Artemis II Lunar Voyage Set for April 1 Launch
13 Mar
Summary
- Four astronauts will journey around the moon on a 10-day test flight.
- The Artemis II mission is targeted for an early April 1 launch.
- Technical issues caused previous postponements, now resolved.
NASA aims to launch four astronauts on the Artemis II mission around the moon as early as April 1. This mission represents the first crewed journey to lunar proximity in over half a century. The agency has resolved technical issues that previously postponed launch opportunities in February and March, ensuring readiness for the upcoming flight.
The Artemis II mission is a 10-day test flight that will loop the crew around the far side of the moon without landing. The mission will utilize the Space Launch System rocket and the Orion capsule. Future missions, planned for 2028, will focus on returning astronauts to the lunar surface.
The crew consists of commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. Victor Glover will be the first Black man, Christina Koch the first woman, and Jeremy Hansen the first non-U.S. citizen to travel around the moon.
Previous launch attempts were delayed due to a hydrogen leak during a dress rehearsal and later by an issue with helium flow to the rocket's upper stage. These technical challenges have been rectified, and the crew is scheduled for quarantine starting March 18.
