NASA has announced the countdown for its Artemis II flight to the Moon has begun, with the weather forecast looking good for launch day on April 1st.
The four Artemis II astronauts remain in quarantine ahead of their flight, but have already made the journey from their quarantine base in Houston, Texas to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where the launch will take place.
After a series of setbacks and launch delays that have stretched out the build-up to the mission throughout 2026 so far, it feels like Artemis II may finally launch this week.
Launch countdown has begun
For a mission like Artemis II, countdown begins much earlier than the final 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...
The Artemis II countdown clock lasts about 48 hours and began at 16:44 EDT (20:44 UTC) on March 30th, 2026, targeting a launch time of 18:24 EDT (22:24 UTC) on Wednesday April 1st.
Artemis II could potentially launch just as the April Pink Moon is peaking, making for a potentially beautiful sight for those attending lift-off, as the full Moon and Space Launch System rocket appear momentarily in the sky together.
"With countdown officially underway, engineers are powering up flight hardware, checking communication links and preparing the rocket’s cryogenic systems for the precise fueling sequence required to load hundreds of thousands of gallons of super-cooled liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen," NASA says.
"At Launch Pad 39B, teams will begin filling the sound suppression system’s massive tank with water, which will unleash a protective deluge at liftoff to shield the vehicle from the roar of its own engines."
More on Artemis II
Getting the crew ready
The four-person Artemis II crew consists of Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen.
They're preparing for a 10-day trip that will take them around the Moon and back.
They'll fly farther into space than any human being before them, travelling beyond the Moon and then using the Moon's gravity to slingshot round the far side of the Moon and prepare for the journey home.
The very first crewed mission around the Moon was Apollo 8 in 1968, and Artemis II and Apollo 8 share similarities.
But the Artemis II crew will fly so far from the Moon, they'll be able to see the whole of the lunar far side in one view, whereas the Apollo astronauts got a close-up view of the surface.
For now, the four Artemis II astronauts remain in quarantine, to ensure fitness and readiness for the first planned launch on Wednesday evening.
They're undergoing technical verification procedures, as well as health monitoring and medical checks.
NASA says they've been following a controlled sleep schedule and nutrition plan to ensure optimum energy and hydration for launch.
Whether the weather will hold
A lot can happen in the build-up from countdown to launch, and lift-off could be postponed at any time, whether that be down to a technical problem on the ground, or a spate of bad weather.
NASA says both it and weather officers with the U.S. Space Force’s Space Launch Delta 45 are paying close attention to the weather ahead of launch.
The list of NASA weather criteria for launch is extensive, and clearly that's another aspect of the mission that needs to satisfy strict requirements in order for launch to go ahead.
But NASA says the weather forecast for launch day shows an 80% chance of favourable weather conditions.
It says the biggest concerns are cloud coverage and the potential for high winds in the area.
Watch the launch
If you're not lucky enough to be in Florida for launch day, you can watch online via NASA's YouTube channel.
The live stream begins at 07:45 EDT (11:45 UTC) on 1 April 2026, with fuelling and preparations ahead of launch.
Full coverage begins on NASA+, the agency's live TV feed, at 12:50 EDT (16:50 UTC) on 1 April.
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