CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – With the charge of “for all of humanity,” the four astronauts launched toward the moon Wednesday in a historic launch for the 32-story Space Launch System rocket and the Artemis II mission.
The mission is NASA’s planned lunar fly-around that will be the first crewed moon trip in 53 years.
6:42 p.m.
A few minutes after the launch window opened, the SLS rocket launched from Kennedy Space Center at 6:35 p.m.
Liftoff.
— NASA (@NASA) April 1, 2026
The Artemis II mission launched from @NASAKennedy at 6:35pm ET (2235 UTC), propelling four astronauts on a journey around the Moon.
Artemis II will pave the way for future Moon landings, as well as the next giant leap — astronauts on Mars. pic.twitter.com/ENQA4RTqAc
6:26 p.m.
Launch is set for 6:35 p.m.
6:23 p.m.
Launch is officially a go. The launch will not happen when the window opens at 6:24 p.m., because of a brief concern, but all issues appear to be resolved. Once the countdown clock is resumed, we will be at 10 minutes to launch.
6:02 p.m.
Crews are on board the SLS rocket and the hatch has closed, and so far, everything is progressing toward a launch at 6:24 p.m. Weather is 90% go for launch as well, according to meteorologist Jonathan Kegges.
If there is an issue, the launch window extends to 8:24 p.m.
Want to see the launch? Check out this map from NASA.
5:32 p.m.
News 6’s Erik Von Ancken explains the technical issue with the SLS rocket and how NASA resolved it.
5:10 p.m.
NASA says the launch can go forward after troubleshooting the communication issue at the launch pad. Launch window opens at 6:24 p.m.
4:42 p.m.
News 6’s Erick Von Ancken reports that an issue with the launch abort system on the rocket has put the launch into “no go” status. Crews are attempting to fix the issue on the launch pad.
2:56 p.m.
Rocket fueling is complete. News 6’s Erik von Ancken explains how that works and what they are doing now to keep the rocket launch ready.
2:30 p.m.
Artemis II astronauts arrive at launch pad 39B in an astrovan.
2 p.m.
The Artemis II astronauts, suited up for launch, roll out to the launch pad
Returning to the moon
Three Americans and one Canadian will fly around the moon without stopping or even orbiting — then head straight back for a Pacific splashdown. They will set a new distance record for the farthest humans have traveled from Earth as they zoom some 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometers) beyond the moon and then hang a U-turn.
Astronauts last flew to the moon during Apollo 17 in 1972.
Artemis II is the opening shot of NASA’s grand plans for a permanent moon base. The space program is aiming for a moon landing near the lunar south pole in 2028.
“The next era of exploration begins,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman posted on X.
Best wishes already have started to pour in, including from England’s King Charles III to Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
Hansen will become the first non-U. S. citizen to launch to the moon. The crew also includes Christina Koch and Victor Glover, the first woman and first Black astronaut, respectively, destined for the moon.
“In this historic moment, you stand as a bridge between nations and generations,” the king wrote in a letter to Hansen, “and I commend you for your courage, discipline and vision that have brought you to this threshold.”
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