Artemis II scheduled for launch in early 2026 after rehearsal – Jalopnik

While you were probably looking for last-minute Christmas presents for your friends and family, NASA has completed a crucial rehearsal for its upcoming manned mission to the moon. The space agency conducted a countdown demonstration test last Saturday in preparation for Artemis II. The actual launch, scheduled for early 2026, will involve four astronauts flying around the moon. Although there won’t be a moon landing, the mission will be the first time NASA has sent astronauts anywhere near the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972.

During the dry run, NASA’s launch and flight control teams walked through the final 5.5 hours of launch day. Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen donned their space suits and climbed into their Orion capsule as if they were blasting off. The only significant difference is that the rocket was still in the Vehicle Assembly Building and not on the Kennedy Space Center launch pad. Recently, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman confirmed in a press release:

“This test marks the passage of an important milestone on America’s journey to the launch pad. We have many more to go, but I am encouraged by the expertise and precision our teams have demonstrated as we continue NASA’s ambitious legacy in lunar exploration.”

There was only a two-month gap between Apollo 10 and Apollo 11. However, the silence between Artemis II and Artemis III will last much longer. NASA expects the next moon landing to take place in mid-2027, at least a year after the moon flight. This schedule assumes that there are no more delays. There is currently no lander for Artemis III, as SpaceX’s spacecraft development is behind schedule, despite Elon Musk’s claims that his company could get to the moon cheaper and faster than the federal agency. NASA reopened the competition for the lander contract in October. There is also the possibility that Artemis III will make a landing entirely on water. Don’t worry, President Trump has signed an executive order demanding that NASA land on the moon in 2028, his last year as president. There is no additional financing associated with the order, but I am completely confident that this will prevent any further delays.