Last mentioned: Mar 20, 2026
New Launch Target
NASA aims for a revised launch window for the crewed lunar flyby.
Target Launch
Earliest projected launch window for the Artemis II lunar mission.
Pad Arrival
The SLS/Orion stack successfully reaches Launch Pad 39B.
VAB Repairs
Engineers complete final maintenance on Orion life support components.
Rollout Delay
High winds at Kennedy Space Center prevent the SLS from moving to the pad.
Target Launch
Scheduled liftoff for the first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years.
VAB Rollback
Planned return to the Vehicle Assembly Building for hardware repairs.
Final Integration
Orion spacecraft and SLS rocket undergo final stacking and testing at KSC.
Current Delay
New repairs identified for the SLS rocket core stage, delaying the mission indefinitely.
Malfunction Detected
Helium system failure identified during launch pad preparations.
Second Delay
Mission timeline moves to April 2026 due to Orion heat shield and life support issues.
First Major Delay
NASA pushes Artemis II from late 2024 to September 2025 citing safety concerns.
Crew Announcement
NASA and CSA name the four astronauts assigned to the Artemis II mission.
Artemis I Success
Uncrewed Orion spacecraft completes 25-day mission around the Moon.
Artemis I Success
Uncrewed SLS and Orion mission successfully orbits the Moon and returns to Earth.
Artemis I Success
Uncrewed SLS and Orion mission successfully completes lunar orbit.
NASA has returned the Artemis II Space Launch System (SLS) rocket to the launch pad after addressing technical issues and weather-related delays. This mission, the first crewed lunar flight in over 50 years, is now targeting an early April liftoff following a successful rollout from the Vehicle Assembly Building.
NASA has officially postponed the Artemis II crewed lunar mission to April 2026 after a malfunction was detected in the rocket's helium system. The Space Launch System (SLS) stack must be rolled back to the Vehicle Assembly Building for repairs, marking a significant setback for the lunar program's timeline.
NASA has officially postponed the Artemis II crewed lunar flyby mission, the first human-crewed flight of the Space Launch System (SLS), due to newly identified repair requirements on the rocket. This latest setback pushes the mission's timeline further into the late 2020s, complicating the broader goal of returning humans to the lunar surface.
NASA has officially targeted March 6 for the launch of Artemis II, the first crewed mission of the Artemis program. The mission will carry four astronauts on a high-speed lunar flyby, marking the first human voyage to the vicinity of the Moon in over half a century.