Key Takeaways
- NASA targets April Fool’s Day launch for Artemis II.
- Mission will test Orion capsule and carry out crucial research.
- Crew will fly by lunar far side at an altitude of 3,000-9,000 miles.
NASA Targets April Fool's Day for Artemis II Launch
US Space Agency Prepares for Historic Lunar Mission
NASA is targeting April Fool’s Day to launch the Artemis II space crew, which will test the Orion capsule and carry out crucial research. The mission, pending close-out of remaining work, will see the four-person crew fly by the lunar far side at an altitude of approximately 3,000 to 9,000 miles. According to NASA, the Space Launch System offers ‘more payload mass, volume, and departure energy than any other single rocket’. The Orion spacecraft will serve as the exploration vehicle for future missions to the Moon and return safely to Earth. NASA delayed the first launch in February 2026 due to technical issues during a critical prelaunch test.
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