NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket is set to launch Artemis II as soon as April 1, 2026, sending four astronauts on a crewed flyby to the Moon's far side—the farthest from Earth any humans have traveled. This follows February's Artemis program adjustments addressing SLS delays, using the rocket's powerful core stage and boosters detailed ahead of liftoff.
NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, central to the Artemis program, is slated for liftoff as soon as April 1, 2026, from Kennedy Space Center, carrying four astronauts on Artemis II—a crewed mission orbiting the Moon's far side, farther from Earth than Apollo. This comes after NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman's February 27 announcement rescheduling Artemis II from earlier delays due to fuel leaks and tests, now targeting this date before future landings.
The SLS core stage mixes 537,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen with 196,000 gallons of liquid oxygen, ignited by four RS-25 engines producing 1.7 million pounds of thrust. Two solid rocket boosters then activate, each adding 3.3 million pounds via solid propellant, for a total liftoff thrust exceeding 8 million pounds.
Building on unmanned tests and program tweaks for higher launch cadence, Artemis II advances NASA's goal of sustainable lunar presence amid competition from China. Keywords: space, NASA, Moon, Artemis, SLS. Coverage reported ahead of the launch window by WIRED.
