NASA Unveils Artemis II Launch Windows: What We Know

Space agency is making final preparations for what will be the first crewed mission beyond Earth orbit in more than half a century.

Jack Daleo

Monday, January 12, 2026 at 03:30 PM ET

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Jack Daleo

Crews transport NASA’s Artemis II Orion spacecraft from the Multi-Payload Processing Facility to the Launch Abort System Facility at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on August 10, 2025. [Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett]

Key Takeaways:

NASA has announced initial launch windows for Artemis II, the first crewed spaceflight beyond Earth orbit in over half a century, with the earliest opportunities starting in February.
Artemis II will send four astronauts around the Moon for approximately 10 days to validate vehicle systems and practice maneuvers crucial for the subsequent Artemis III human lunar landing.
Extensive prelaunch preparations are underway, including the rollout of the SLS rocket and Orion capsule, rigorous testing, and critical wet dress rehearsals, with NASA aiming for a February launch if all activities proceed smoothly.

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NASA for the first time has announced launch windows for the first crewed spaceflight beyond Earth orbit in more than half a century.

The space agency on Friday said it is making final preparations for the Artemis II mission, which will send four astronauts around the moon and back as a precursor to Artemis III—humanity’s first mission to the treacherous lunar south pole, planned for as early as mid-2027.