NASA Confirms Artemis II Moon Mission Launch Date

The Chronify

January 14, 2026

Historic Crewed Mission Set to Launch on February 6, 2027, with Plans for Future Lunar Landings

NASA has officially confirmed that Artemis II, the first crewed Moon mission since 1972, is scheduled for launch on February 6, 2027, from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Due to strict orbital alignment requirements, backup launch dates have been set for February 7, 8, 10, and 11.

This groundbreaking 10-day mission will carry NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. Using the Orion spacecraft, launched atop NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, the crew will travel beyond low-Earth orbit for the first time in over 50 years.

Although Artemis II will not land on the Moon, it is a critical test mission designed to evaluate life-support systems, navigation, and deep-space operations. The crew will perform a lunar flyby, using the Moon's gravity to slingshot back toward Earth. The success of Artemis II will pave the way for Artemis III in 2027, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface, initiating a new era of sustained Moon exploration.