Florida: The NASA is preparing for a historic return of astronauts to deep space as it targets early April for the launch of the Artemis II mission. The mission will mark the first time in more than 50 years that humans travel around the Moon, reviving crewed lunar exploration efforts.
The mission was initially scheduled to launch in March but was postponed after engineers detected a helium leak in the rocket system. The rocket was subsequently returned to the Vehicle Assembly Building in Cape Canaveral for repairs.
NASA officials say the issue has now been addressed and the agency plans to roll the rocket back to the launch pad on March 19. If preparations proceed as expected, the earliest launch opportunity is set for April 1.
LIVE: Following the conclusion of the Artemis II Flight Readiness Review, we’re sharing the latest updates on our upcoming crewed mission around the Moon. https://t.co/aWOpUspv85
— NASA (@NASA) March 12, 2026
The Artemis II crew consists of three American astronauts, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The four astronauts will become the first humans to travel aboard NASA’s powerful Space Launch System and the Orion spacecraft.
During the planned 10-day mission, the crew will travel around the far side of the Moon, the region never visible from Earth, before returning home. The mission is considered a critical step in NASA’s broader Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon and eventually send astronauts to Mars.
Officials emphasised that careful risk management remains a central focus of the mission. John Honeycutt, chair of the Artemis II Mission Management Team, noted that historically, the development of new rockets carries significant uncertainty.
According to Honeycutt, historical data suggests that early launches of newly developed rockets have about a 50 percent success rate. However, he expressed confidence that NASA’s extensive testing and risk-mitigation processes place the agency in a stronger position for success.
NASA also confirmed that it will not conduct another ‘wet dress rehearsal’, a full pre-launch test in which the rocket is loaded with fuel and taken through a simulated countdown. Acting associate administrator Lori Glaze said the agency believes additional rehearsals would provide limited new insights.
Lori Glaze stated that, “The next time the rocket is fully fuelled will be during the actual launch attempt.” Despite the progress, NASA officials stressed that additional work remains before the launch date is finalised. Engineers will continue inspections and preparations both inside the assembly building and at the launch pad.
The Artemis II mission has already experienced significant delays. Earlier setbacks included issues with the heat shield discovered after the uncrewed Artemis I flight to the Moon. As a result, NASA pushed back the schedule by roughly two years.
In December 2024, the agency set a new deadline aiming to launch Artemis II before the end of April 2026. With preparations progressing, officials say they remain focused on achieving a launch window in early April while prioritising safety and technical readiness. The mission is expected to mark a major milestone in human space exploration, paving the way for future crewed lunar landings under the Artemis programme.
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