Overview

• NASA officials said the first launch opportunity for Artemis II opens on February 5, 2026, moving up from a previously stated no‑later‑than April window.
• Artemis II is a 10‑day flight sending Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen on a free‑return trajectory around the Moon without landing.
• Launch teams report the Space Launch System is largely stacked, with Orion attachment targeted for mid‑October, followed by a roll to Pad 39B and a wet dress rehearsal.
• Managers addressed Orion heat‑shield concerns from Artemis I by adjusting the planned reentry profile, with officials emphasizing that crew safety drives the schedule.
• Artemis III remains planned for no earlier than mid‑2027 using SpaceX’s Starship Human Landing System, as NASA’s safety advisers warn that the HLS timeline is significantly challenged and could slip by years.