NASA Targets Early April for Artemis II Launch

NASA said it is aiming to try again on April 1 at 6:24 PM ET for the Artemis II launch, with a secondary opportunity on April 2 at 7:22 PM and additional windows through April 6. The agency noted it expects roughly four attempts could be possible across that six-day span, though not every day will necessarily be available for a launch try.

Officials plan to roll Artemis II back out to the launch pad on March 19 as part of preparations, but cautioned further delays remain possible. "We would be guided by what the hardware is telling us, and we will launch when we're ready," said acting associate administrator Lori Glaze at a press briefing, stressing that work remains both in the Vehicle Assembly Building and at the pad.

Artemis II will be the United States' first crewed lunar mission since the early 1970s, a roughly 10-day flight that will carry four astronauts around the Moon and return them to Earth. It will also mark the first crewed flight of the Orion spacecraft and an important step toward the program's longer-term objective of returning humans to the lunar surface.

The mission's schedule has already slipped several times. An initial early-February target was pushed to March after hydrogen leak issues surfaced during a wet dress rehearsal. Later, engineers found a helium flow blockage in the rocket's upper stage, prompting another delay and the rollback from the pad to allow troubleshooting and component replacement, including multiple flight batteries.

All of this happens amid a broader Artemis program review that adjusted timelines for a crewed lunar landing, moving that objective toward 2028. For enthusiasts and casual observers alike, the coming weeks will be a period of close attention: teams will be working through hardware checks, and NASA will announce firm launch opportunities as readiness is confirmed.