Liputan6.com, Jakarta - NASA is preparing to launch the historic Artemis II mission on April 1, 2026, a significant milestone in human space exploration.
The mission will carry four astronauts on a crewed test flight around the Moon, the first since Apollo 17 in 1972.
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The primary objective of the NASA Artemis 2 mission is to verify the capabilities of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, as well as the crew's readiness for future lunar missions.
The launch will take place from Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida, marking the return of humans to lunar orbit in more than half a century.
The Orion spacecraft will follow a unique figure-eight trajectory, carrying the crew around Earth before cruising toward the Moon.
Mission Launch Schedule and Preparations
NASA's Artemis 2 mission is scheduled to launch no earlier than April 1, 2026, at 6:24 PM EDT (22:24 UTC), from Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
NASA has identified several alternative launch windows between April 2-6 and April 30, 2026, to ensure operational flexibility.
The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft for Artemis II arrived at Launch Pad 39B on March 20, 2026, after an 11-hour journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB).
This process involves the use of the advanced crawler-transporter 2 vehicle.
NASA Artemis 2 Flight Objectives and Trajectory
The primary objective of NASA Artemis 2 is a crewed lunar spaceflight, which will be the first crewed flight using the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft around the Moon.
This mission is designed to verify the system and team's ability to sustain a crew in an extreme flight environment.
It will also test hardware and operations from development to recovery.
The mission is planned to last approximately 10 days, following a unique figure-of-eight pattern.
This trajectory will take the crew around Earth and then around the Moon, with Orion flying at its closest approach of approximately 4,047 miles (6,513 km) from the lunar surface on the far side.
The outbound journey and flyby are expected to take approximately four days.
During the flyby, Orion will utilize the Moon's gravity to aid its return to Earth via a free-return trajectory.
Historic Crew of NASA's Artemis 2 Mission
The NASA Artemis 2 mission crew, announced on April 3, 2023, consists of four experienced astronauts: Commander Reid Wiseman (NASA), Pilot Victor Glover (NASA), Mission Specialist Christina Koch (NASA), and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen (Canadian Space Agency - CSA).
Victor Glover will make history as the first person of color to travel to the Moon, while Christina Koch will be the first woman to accomplish the same feat.
Jeremy Hansen, from Canada, will be the first non-American to circumnavigate the Moon.
Their experience on the International Space Station (ISS) and other missions will be invaluable assets in navigating the complex challenges of lunar flight.
Technological Highlights of the Artemis II
The Artemis 2 mission is NASA's first crewed mission beyond low-Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972, marking humanity's return to deep space.
It will take humans farther from Earth and closer to the Moon than anyone in more than half a century, even breaking Apollo 13's record for the furthest distance humans have traveled from Earth.
This mission is a crucial step toward future Artemis missions aimed at placing astronauts on the lunar surface, and serves as a test flight for the Artemis IV lunar lander planned for 2028.
Technologically, the mission will launch aboard the Space Launch System (SLS) Block 1 rocket, the most powerful rocket ever, with 8.8 million pounds of thrust.
The Orion CM-003 Integrity and ESM-2 spacecraft will be used, designed to carry astronauts to the Moon and a crucial step toward Mars.
Artemis II will also test optical communications to and from Earth using the Orion Artemis II Optical Communications System (O2O), capable of transmitting data at up to 260 megabits per second.