Details on NASA's Artemis II mission include crew preparations, launch timelines, and briefing schedules as the agency prepares for its first crewed Artemis flight.
NASA has outlined comprehensive coverage for the Artemis II mission, the agency's first crewed flight under the Artemis program. The mission will send NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, on a 10-day trip around the Moon. Launch is targeted for no earlier than 6:24 p.m. EDT on April 1 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with a two-hour window and additional opportunities through April 6.
The crew will test the Orion spacecraft's life support systems for the first time with humans aboard, using NASA's SLS rocket. This flight builds on previous uncrewed tests and aims to pave the way for future lunar missions. Artemis II crew members recently participated in an integrated ground systems test at Kennedy Space Center, simulating launch day procedures.
Mission Schedule and Briefings
Key events begin on March 27, with the Artemis II crew arriving at Kennedy Space Center for a media session at 2:30 p.m. EDT, joined by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and CSA President Lisa Campbell. On March 29, the crew will answer questions virtually from their quarantine facility at 9:30 a.m. EDT, followed by a NASA status update at 2 p.m. EDT featuring officials like Lori Glaze and Howard Hu.
Further briefings include a news conference on March 30 at 5 p.m. EDT with participants such as Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya and Mission Management Team Chair John Honeycutt. On March 31, a prelaunch conference at 1 p.m. EDT will cover countdown status with a launch team representative and weather officer Mark Burger. Tanking operations for the SLS rocket start on April 1 at 7:45 a.m. EDT, with full launch coverage beginning at 12:50 p.m. EDT on NASA+ and YouTube.
Post-launch activities include a news conference about two-and-a-half hours after liftoff, featuring Administrator Isaacman and other officials. Mission status briefings will continue daily from NASA Johnson Space Center starting April 2, with live downlink events for crew interactions scheduled throughout the mission, such as on April 2 at 10:24 p.m. EDT and April 3 at 8:44 p.m. EDT. Coverage will be available on NASA's YouTube channel and other platforms, ensuring 24/7 access.
For media, telephone participation in briefings requires RSVPs to specified email addresses, with limited in-person seats at Kennedy. The agency provides guidance on watching content via social media and other online services, emphasizing real-time updates during the mission.
