Artemis II Countdown: How and When to Watch the Launch
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NASA
American space and aeronautics agency
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government responsible for the United States' civil space program and for research in aeronautics and space exploration. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., NASA operates ten field centers across th...
Artemis II
Artemis program's second lunar flight
Artemis II is a planned lunar spaceflight mission under the Artemis program, led by NASA. It is intended to be the second flight of the Space Launch System (SLS), and the first crewed mission of the Orion spacecraft. It is the first crewed mission around the Moon, and beyond low Earth orbit, since A...
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Why It Matters
The Artemis II mission represents humanity's return to crewed lunar exploration after more than 50 years, marking a crucial step toward establishing a sustainable presence on the Moon and eventually reaching Mars. This launch affects space agencies worldwide, commercial space companies, scientific communities, and inspires a new generation of STEM professionals. The mission's success could accelerate international collaboration in space exploration and drive technological innovations with Earth-based applications.
Context & Background
- Artemis II is the first crewed mission in NASA's Artemis program, following the uncrewed Artemis I test flight that orbited the Moon in 2022
- The last human mission to the Moon was Apollo 17 in 1972, making this the first crewed lunar mission in over half a century
- Artemis II will carry four astronauts—three Americans and one Canadian—on a 10-day mission to orbit the Moon without landing
- The mission uses NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, both developed specifically for deep space exploration
- Artemis program aims to land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon through subsequent missions
What Happens Next
Following a successful Artemis II mission, NASA plans to launch Artemis III in 2025 or 2026 for the first crewed lunar landing since Apollo. The agency will analyze Artemis II data to certify systems for lunar landing missions and continue developing lunar Gateway station components. International partners will advance their contributions to the Artemis program, including lunar surface systems from commercial providers.
Frequently Asked Questions
The launch is currently scheduled for September 2025, though exact dates depend on final testing and readiness reviews. NASA typically announces specific launch windows several months in advance.
NASA will provide live coverage on NASA Television, the NASA app, and NASA.gov. Major news networks and streaming platforms will also carry coverage, with pre-launch programming beginning hours before liftoff.
Artemis II uses modern technology, international collaboration, and commercial partnerships absent during Apollo. The mission tests systems for sustainable lunar exploration rather than brief visits, with more diverse crew composition.
No, Artemis II is an orbital mission only—the crew will fly around the Moon and return to Earth. The first lunar landing in the Artemis program is planned for Artemis III.
Canada is contributing the Canadarm3 robotic system to the lunar Gateway station. In exchange, a Canadian astronaut received a seat on Artemis II through the NASA-Canada space cooperation agreement.