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NASA Opens Early February Launch Window for Artemis II Moon Flyby

The crewed test mission advances toward a final readiness decision with SLS stacked plus Orion nearing integration for a systems‑validation flight.

Overview

  • Officials identified Feb. 5, 2026 as the earliest possible launch date and reiterated a commitment to launch no later than April.
  • The four-person crew—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen—will fly a roughly 10‑day free‑return around the moon.
  • The astronauts announced the Orion capsule’s name, Integrity, reflecting the mission’s emphasis on trust and responsibility.
  • SLS is largely stacked at Kennedy Space Center, while Orion completes final processing and then moves to the Vehicle Assembly Building for integration, testing, rollout, and a wet dress rehearsal.
  • Artemis II will test Orion’s life support, navigation, displays, software, and a proximity‑operations demo before committing to the translunar burn, with splashdown planned in the Pacific off San Diego as reentry planning incorporates Artemis I heat‑shield lessons.