Artemis 2 – Spaceflight Now

Astronauts, launch teams practice Artemis 2 countdown

December 21, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The run-through simulated day-of-launch activities, included suit up, ingress into the Orion spacecraft and a countdown that stopped just shy of T-0.

Orion hatch ‘blemish’ delays launch day rehearsal for Artemis 2 astronauts

December 4, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The hatch issue caused NASA to modify its prelaunch preparations within the Vehicle Assembly Building but it continues to target an early February launch of the mission to carry four astronauts on a loop around the Moon.

Orion spacecraft arrives at VAB ahead of stacking for Artemis 2

October 17, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

This is the first spacecraft that will carry humans on a mission to the Moon since 1972. The Artemis 2 mission is scheduled for no earlier than Feb. 5, 2026.

NASA leaders, Artemis contractors argue importance of architecture continuity for returning to the Moon

February 7, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

Representatives from NASA, Boeing and Lockheed Martin argued that the United States shouldn’t skip past the Moon in favor of Mars when it comes to crewed deep space exploration. The discussion came up during a panel at the SpaceCom conference concerning the forthcoming Artemis 2 mission.

As it happened: NASA leadership announces delays to first Artemis crewed launch, Moon landing missions

December 5, 2024 Spaceflight Now

NASA announced new delays for the Artemis Moon program at a news conference at the agency’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. The Artemis 2 mission to circle the Moon is now scheduled for 2026 and the first lunar landing is delayed to 2027.

News from the Press Site: Boeing approaches first astronaut mission with Starliner

May 4, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

In this week’s edition of News from the Press Site, Spaceflight Now’s Will Robinson-Smith is joined by Rachel Jewett, Senior Managing Editor for Via Satellite, and Joey Roulette, U.S. Business of Space Correspondent for Reuters.

News from the Press Site: Eclipse preview, spacecraft testing and space junk hitting a Florida home

April 5, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

Joining the live video podcast on Friday, April 5, are Emilee Speck, space journalist with FOX Weather, and Stephen Clark, space reporter with Ars Technica. The show begins at 4 p.m. EDT (2000 UTC) on the Spaceflight Now YouTube channel.

First astronaut missions to the Moon since 1972 delayed due to heat shield questions, hardware readiness

January 10, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced on Tuesday that Artemis 2 will be delayed until Sept. 2025 and Artemis 3 until Sept. 2026. The additional time is needed both from a hardware readiness perspective as well as to answer outstanding questions about the heat shield.

NASA’s moon program mobile launcher rolls back to the launch pad for testing

August 16, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

The launch tower supporting the first three Artemis missions was back on the move for the first time Wednesday after more than half a year of repairs and upgrades.

Artemis 2 astronauts get first look at their Orion moonship

August 8, 2023 William Harwood

NASA’s four Artemis 2 astronauts, getting their first look at the Orion capsule that will carry them around the moon next year, said seeing the hardware first hand and meeting the men and women building the spacecraft brought home the reality of their historic mission.