Artemis 2: NASA's Historic Return to the Moon Launches April 1

After more than five decades, humanity is preparing to return to the Moon. NASA's Artemis 2 mission—just two days from launch on April 1 at 6:24 p.m. EDT—will carry four astronauts on a historic 10-day voyage around Earth's natural satellite.

The Crew

The Artemis 2 crew represents international partnership and groundbreaking firsts:

• Reid Wiseman (NASA, Commander) - Leading the mission with focus and precision
• Christina Koch (NASA) - Set to become the first woman to fly around the Moon
• Victor Glover (NASA) - Will become the first Black astronaut to leave Earth orbit
• Jeremy Hansen (Canadian Space Agency) - The first non-American to travel beyond Earth orbit

Why Artemis 2 Matters

Unlike Apollo—which planted flags and gathered rocks—Artemis represents a permanent return. This is a proving mission for the Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System, testing systems and procedures that will support sustained lunar exploration and eventual missions to Mars.

The mission is NASA's response to President Trump's National Space Policy: return to the Moon before the end of his term, build a lunar base with nuclear power systems, and establish enduring human presence.

The Weather Window

Teams are tracking zero technical issues. Weather forecasts show 80% favorable conditions for launch. A recent X1.4 solar flare triggered a brief radio blackout, but space weather teams are monitoring carefully to ensure crew safety.

The countdown clock is running. In two days, four astronauts will climb aboard Orion and begin the journey humans haven't made since December 1972.

Source: NASA Artemis 2 Live Updates