Artemis II Crewed Lunar Flyby Scheduled for Early 2026 Launch

NASA has scheduled the Artemis II mission to launch with a crew of four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon, marking a key step in the agency’s lunar exploration program.

The Artemis II mission will use the Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System (SLS) to carry Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen on a lunar flyby and return to Earth.

According to NASA, the earliest planned launch date for Artemis II is February 5, 2026, with the launch window extending through April of that year. Mission planners have identified several specific opportunities for launch between January 31 and February 14, including February 6, 7, 8, 10, and 11, as well as a later window from February 28 to March 13.

This mission will be the first crewed flight of the Artemis program, following previous uncrewed tests of the Orion spacecraft and SLS. The crew will conduct a lunar flyby, traveling around the Moon before returning to Earth after approximately 10 days in space.

What the numbers show

• The earliest scheduled launch date is February 5, 2026
• Launch opportunities include dates between January 31 and February 14, and February 28 to March 13
• The mission duration is planned for 10 days

The Artemis II crew includes three NASA astronauts and one astronaut from the Canadian Space Agency, reflecting international collaboration in lunar exploration. The assignment of these four astronauts was confirmed by NASA as part of the mission’s planning process.

NASA’s published launch windows allow for flexibility in scheduling, with several dates identified to accommodate technical or weather-related considerations. The agency’s mission planners continue to monitor conditions and prepare for the selected launch opportunity within the designated timeframe.

The Artemis II mission represents the next step in NASA’s efforts to establish a sustainable presence on and around the Moon. The mission will test systems and procedures needed for future lunar surface missions as part of the broader Artemis program.

Following Artemis II, NASA intends to continue its lunar exploration efforts with additional missions, building on the experience and data gathered from this crewed lunar flyby.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.