Updated: April 1, 2026 / 10:39 AM EDT
What the mission is: Artemis II will be NASA’s first crewed trip around the moon in more than 50 years. Four astronauts will make a roughly nine-and-a-half-day round-trip voyage to lunar distance and back.
Launch timing: The primary launch window opens at 6:24 p.m. EDT Wednesday and closes at 8:24 p.m. EDT. If countdown and preflight checks proceed on schedule, liftoff from Kennedy Space Center will occur at 6:24 p.m. EDT, but delays could move the launch later within that two-hour window. If the flight slips beyond that, the next two-hour opportunity begins at 7:22 p.m. EDT Thursday.
Television coverage: CBS News will air a Special Report with live launch coverage beginning at 6 p.m. EDT, anchored by Tony Dokoupil on location at Kennedy Space Center. The broadcast will feature CBS correspondents and expert guests, including astronomer Derrick Pitts and former astronauts Peggy Whitson, Mike Hopkins and Harrison Schmitt (Apollo 17 pilot and the last person to walk on the moon).
Streaming options: Extended live coverage starts earlier on CBS News’ streaming channel, CBS News 24/7, with coverage beginning at 4 p.m. EDT. Stream on CBSNews.com or via the free CBS News app on mobile and streaming devices. CBS News’ live coverage will also be available on YouTube and Paramount+.
In-person viewing: NASA offered viewing packages at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex but those tickets are sold out. If skies are clear, residents across much of Florida and southeastern Georgia may be able to see the rocket in the minutes after liftoff — roughly 10 to 70 seconds after launch depending on distance from the pad. NASA has published a visibility map showing where and when the ascent should be visible.
Plan ahead: Expect a range of possible launch times within the announced windows; check official NASA and CBS News feeds for real-time updates and any scrub or postponement notices.