NASA's Artemis II mission is set to launch from Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, with the rocket visible across Brevard County and parts of Florida and Georgia. The 10-day mission will send four astronauts on a journey around the moon and back, marking a key step in the agency's plan to return humans to the lunar surface. The launch window depends on weather, but as of 5 p.m. ET on April 1, all signs point to a successful liftoff.
The mission will carry three American astronauts and one Canadian, traveling about 250,000 miles beyond the moon — farther than the Apollo 13 mission — and seeing a side of the moon no human has ever viewed. No landing is planned, but the flight will test systems and procedures needed for future lunar landings as early as 2028. NASA's Artemis II closeout team has completed a critical step by sealing the crew module hatch on the Orion spacecraft, according to a 3:17 p.m. update.
SpaceX is also launching a rocket from Florida the following day, April 2, with a northeast trajectory. The company's mission will be routine compared to Artemis II's historic voyage but will add to the busy launch schedule at Cape Canaveral.
Residents in Brevard County and along the Florida coast may see the Artemis II rocket as it ascends, though visibility will depend on cloud cover and light conditions. The mission is the second under NASA's Artemis program, following Artemis I's 2022 uncrewed test flight.
The launch will be broadcast live, with updates available through NASA's website and social media. For those unable to view it in person, the event offers a rare chance to witness a milestone in space exploration from the Space Coast.