The American space agency has set March 6, 2026, as the earliest possible launch date for the Artemis II mission. The decision was made following the successful completion of a key dress rehearsal, during which fuel leak issues were resolved. This will be the first expedition in over half a century to send a four-person crew to fly near the Moon, paving the way for a permanent human presence on the lunar surface.

Launch Date Set

The earliest possible launch date is March 6, 2026, from a spaceport in Florida.

Successful Fuel Tests

Engineers successfully fueled the rocket with 2.8 million liters of propellant, eliminating previous hydrogen leaks.

Crewed Return to Deep Space

The mission will last 10 days and will be the first crewed flight to the vicinity of the Moon in over 50 years.

Quarantine Procedure

The four-person crew has already begun isolation to prevent infections before the historic launch.

The American agency NASA has officially confirmed that, after a series of technical hurdles, the Artemis II mission is ready for launch in a new window opening on March 6, 2026. This decision was announced by Jared Isaacman, the newly appointed agency administrator, during a press conference on Friday. According to expert assurances, the final wet dress rehearsal test was a complete success, allowing for the elimination of faults related to hydrogen system leaks that had halted preparations in early February. Initiated in 2017, the Artemis program is a direct continuation of the legacy of the Apollo program, which concluded its last crewed lunar expedition with the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. The expedition will last about 10 days and will carry four astronauts – three Americans and one Canadian – on the farthest journey into deep space ever undertaken by humans. The crew will fly past the far side of the Moon, testing the life support systems of the Orion spacecraft and the performance of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. Despite optimism after the successful simulation, NASA representative Lori Glaze noted that rigorous procedures must still be completed before launch, including a flight readiness review and analysis of data from the final fueling. The astronauts began their mandatory quarantine on Friday, a standard precautionary measure before leaving Earth. The agency plans for the Artemis II mission to serve as the foundation for a future landing on the lunar surface as part of the program's next phase. prawda: The four selected astronauts indeed began quarantine on February 20, confirming a high state of readiness for the planned March launch window. (NASA/Bloomberg)

Mentioned People

  • Jared Isaacman — NASA Administrator who announced progress in mission preparations.
  • Lori Glaze — High-ranking NASA official overseeing the launch schedule.