Thousands of people lined the beaches and roads near Kennedy Space Center on March 31, 2026, as the countdown to Artemis II’s launch entered its final days. The uncrewed test flight, set for April 5, marks NASA’s next step in returning humans to the Moon. Local officials said traffic near the spaceport had increased by 40% compared to previous launch weekends.
The launch window opens at 1:59 a.m. EST, but spectators arrived hours earlier to stake out spots on the Cocoa Beach Causeway and other viewing areas. Some brought blankets and thermoses, while others camped in cars with radios tuned to NASA’s live updates. The event drew visitors from as far as Georgia and North Carolina, according to Brevard County tourism data.
Artemis II will carry four astronauts on a 10-day mission to orbit the Moon, testing systems for future landings. The Space Launch System rocket, which will carry the Orion spacecraft, is being fueled at Launch Pad 39B. Engineers confirmed Friday that all systems are nominal, though high winds delayed a previous test.
Local businesses reported selling out of launch-themed merchandise weeks in advance. At the Space Coast’s only McDonald’s, employees said they’ve been preparing for a surge in customers since early March. The launch comes as NASA seeks to meet its goal of landing the first woman and person of color on the Moon by 2025.