NASA outlines timelines for Artemis II mission aiming for crewed lunar flyby in February 2026

NASA has laid out important timelines for the upcoming Artemis II mission, which will mark the first crewed flight of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft in more than five decades. This mission will send a crew of four astronauts on a lunar flyby, rekindling humanity’s connection to lunar exploration. The organization is eyeing a potential launch date as early as February, following significant preparations that include a rollout from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) and an important Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR).

With the stacked rocket and spacecraft now assembled in the VAB, teams are finalizing the process to transition the vehicle to Launch Pad 39B. NASA has scheduled the rollout for no sooner than January 17, 2026, with the four-mile journey aboard the Crawler-Transporter 2 expected to take up to 12 hours. While the date remains tentative—subject to completion of technical checks, weather conditions, and potential troubleshooting—there is considerable optimism that the SLS is nearing its second launch after an extensive preparation period.

The stacking of the Artemis II vehicle officially kicked off on November 20, 2024, shortly after resolving issues related to Orion’s heat shield, following the Artemis I mission. Initially, the mission’s launch window was set for April 2026 but has since been revised to potentially target February 2026, featuring a crew composed of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman (commander), Victor Glover (pilot), Christina Koch (mission specialist), and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen (mission specialist).

The vehicle’s construction proceeded smoothly at the VAB’s High Bay 3, with the first segments of the solid rocket boosters stacked shortly after the project commenced. By mid-February 2025, the SLS assembly reached completion with the addition of critical components, with the twin boosters providing a significant portion of the rocket’s liftoff thrust. The core stage of the SLS was transported from Michoud Assembly Facility to Kennedy Space Center in July 2024 and was positioned vertically in December for processing. Key integration milestones between components were achieved throughout 2025, culminating in powering up the SLS for the first time in May, which involved thorough testing to ensure the integrity of the systems.

With the rocket ready, focus shifted to the Orion spacecraft, designed to carry the astronauts on their lunar journey. After completing necessary operations and testing, Orion was stacked atop the SLS at the VAB by mid-October 2025, marking the successful assembly of the complete launch vehicle.

As the preparation continues, recent activities have resolved minor technical issues affecting the vehicle’s systems. Among the resolutions, teams replaced a bent cable in the flight termination system and addressed a valve problem in Orion’s hatch pressurization system. With these challenges successfully navigated, teams are closing in on the rollout, further affirmed by logistical movements involving the Crawler Transporter.

Upon arrival at Launch Pad 39B, engineers will engage in essential pad integration efforts, which include connecting various systems needed for the launch. This will be followed by powering up all systems to conduct a thorough verification of the hardware in conjunction with ground infrastructure before the crew of Artemis II undertakes a final walkthrough of safety procedures.

A critical component of the pre-launch sequence will be the Wet Dress Rehearsal, slated for the end of January. This extensive test involves loading over 700,000 gallons of cryogenic propellants into the SLS rocket while conducting operational countdown simulations. The rehearsals will focus on ensuring system functionality and troubleshooting any potential issues that could arise, particularly regarding propellant loading—the lessons learned from previous missions will play an important role.

If all goes well, a successful WDR will lead to a Flight Readiness Review, where mission management will evaluate every aspect of the mission’s readiness to commit to a launch date. The Artemis II mission is set to open its launch window as early as February 6, 2026, and involves a complex trajectory that includes a high Earth orbit checkout and a free-return path using the Moon’s gravity.

NASA officials expressed optimism about the mission’s trajectory, emphasizing crew safety as a primary concern as preparations advance. “We are moving closer to Artemis II, with rollout just around the corner,” said Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator for NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate. The agency eyes a significant leap forward in lunar exploration as it prepares to send astronauts beyond low Earth orbit once again.