NASA is entering the final countdown for Artemis 2, the first crewed mission to the moon in over 50 years. The space agency is executing critical prelaunch procedures that will culminate in a historic launch window beginning in early February 2026.
Mission Timeline and Launch Dates
NASA’s Artemis 2 mission is targeting no earlier than February 6, 2026 for its first launch attempt. The agency has identified 15 possible launch dates spread across three windows running through April:
- January 31 – February 14: February 6, 7, 8, 10, and 11
- February 28 – March 13: March 6, 7, 8, 9, and 11
- March 27 – April 10: April 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6
The specific launch date must satisfy strict orbital mechanics requirements, including proper alignment with the Earth and Moon for the trans-lunar injection burn and appropriate entry profiles for the spacecraft’s return journey.
Current Preparations
NASA announced plans to roll out the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B on January 17, 2026, weather permitting. This four-mile journey will take up to 12 hours and marks a crucial milestone in the mission’s final preparation phase.
Following rollout, NASA will conduct a wet dress rehearsal in late January, which involves loading over 700,000 gallons of cryogenic propellants into the rocket and practicing a full launch countdown sequence. This test allows engineers to validate all systems before the actual launch attempt.
The Mission Crew and Objectives
Artemis 2 will carry four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the moon: NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. While the spacecraft will not land on the lunar surface, this mission represents humanity’s first crewed return to lunar space since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.
The mission’s primary objective is to validate all of the Orion spacecraft’s systems in deep space with a crew aboard, paving the way for eventual human lunar landings through the broader Artemis program.