NASA sets March 6 for Artemis II, the first crewed lunar orbit in over 50 years, marking a major milestone in America’s deep-space ambitions.
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| NASA’s Artemis II mission prepares astronauts for lunar orbit, surpassing Apollo-era distance records and paving the way for Artemis III. Image: CH |
Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA — February 21, 2026:
NASA has announced March 6 as the tentative launch date for its Artemis II mission, set to become the first crewed lunar orbit in over 50 years. The milestone comes after a successful wet dress rehearsal, where the Space Launch System (SLS) was fueled with more than 700,000 gallons of propellant and multiple countdown procedures were tested, confirming readiness for the historic flight. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman described the simulation as “a big step toward America’s return to the lunar environment.”
The 10-day mission will have astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency orbit Earth before following a figure-eight trajectory around the moon. This journey will take the crew farther from Earth than any humans have traveled, potentially exceeding the distance record set by Apollo 13. Although the Orion spacecraft is not designed for lunar landings, the mission aims to pass beyond the moon’s far side, providing critical experience for future exploration.
Artemis II is a key precursor to Artemis III, which aims to achieve the first crewed lunar landing since Apollo 17, currently targeted for mid-2027, with possible delays into 2028. The Artemis program also lays the foundation for eventual human missions to Mars, while keeping pace with international competitors like China, which plans crewed lunar missions by 2030.
The wet dress rehearsal included crew demonstrations of Orion hatch operations and observation of terminal countdowns from the Launch Control Center at Kennedy Space Center, ensuring astronauts are fully prepared for all launch procedures.
Overall, Artemis II represents a major milestone in NASA’s lunar ambitions. While it does not include a lunar landing, the mission validates the SLS-Orion system and prepares astronauts for deeper space missions, signaling a new era of American leadership in space exploration.