NASA’s Artemis II rocket is back on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center after repairs inside the Vehicle Assembly Building. The 32‑story Space Launch System and Orion crew capsule are set for a nine‑day, half‑million‑mile crewed mission that will fly the capsule around the moon without landing.
The mission will carry four astronauts who have never flown on SLS or in Orion. The launcher delivers nearly 9 million pounds of thrust, making it the most powerful NASA rocket to fly. Flight controllers moved the stack back to the pad following work to address issues discovered during final processing.
Agency officials have set an early‑April target for the flight, with a senior NASA manager saying teams are comfortable aiming for April 1 as a first opportunity while reminding the public there is still “work to go” before liftoff. As the launch approaches, the crew entered quarantine to finish final preparations.
Astronauts preparing for the flight described a mix of awe and pride at the hardware. Christina Koch, who will be on the crew, noted the significance of the mission and the months of work behind it; she is set to become the first woman to travel to the moon. Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen and others emphasized the uniqueness of flying on a brand‑new rocket and capsule system.
Artemis II is a test flight: it will loop around the far side of the moon, return to Earth, and splash down off the coast of San Diego. NASA plans to follow Artemis II with additional missions; a crewed lunar landing is scheduled as part of Artemis IV, currently targeted for early 2028. Mark Strassmann, CBS News, Kennedy Space Center.