The countdown for the first crewed lunar flight in more than 50 years is underway, NASA announced on Monday.
The onsite countdown clock started ticking down at 4:44 p.m. ET on Monday for the targeted launch of the Artemis II mission in just two days’ time. Read on for full details on how to watch a livestream of the liftoff.
Artemis II will launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and will mark the first crewed launch of NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft.
Aboard the Orion will be NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
Hansen is on his first space voyage, while the other members have all taken part in one mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
The crew will spend 10 days in space testing out the spacecraft’s systems while flying around the moon before returning home.
A successful mission will set NASA on a path to land two humans on the lunar surface in Artemis IV, which is currently set for 2028. Looking further ahead, NASA plans to build a moon base on the lunar surface where astronauts will be able to live and work for extended periods, similar to how they operate at the ISS today.
How to watch
NASA is targeting 6:24 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 1, for the launch of the Artemis II mission from the Kennedy Space Center.
A livestream of tanking operations will begin at 7:45 a.m. ET on Wednesday on NASA’s YouTube channel, which will continue to cover the preparations as well as the launch itself. Full launch coverage on NASA+ will start at 12:50 p.m. ET on Wednesday. You can watch the same livestream on NASA’s X account, as well as on Facebook and Twitch. The video player embedded at the top of this page will carry the same feed.
It’s possible a technical issue or weather concern could disrupt the launch timetable. We’ll update here just as soon as we hear anything.
What to expect
The livestream will show the crew members making their way to the rocket, views from inside and outside the Orion capsule, and commentary explaining everything that’s going on. Multiple cameras will track the SLS rocket as it roars to space, with communications between the crew and Mission control also broadcast as part of the livestream.
