NASA will not decide the Artemis II launch date until system checks are complete.
NASA teams are evaluating the rocket, spacecraft, ground systems, and crew in parallel for Artemis II.
Artemis II will use radio communication primarily to talk to Mission Control.
Artemis II is the first crewed flight of the Artemis program.
Artemis II will be in the Moon's communications shadow for approximately 45 minutes during each far-side pass.
Artemis II's upcoming wet dress rehearsal will clarify near-term viability and schedule risk.
The planned rollout of Artemis II on January 17 represents a significant technical achievement and policy paradox.
Artemis II will be able to send videos and conduct video conferences with people on Earth via its communications links.
Successful completion of Artemis II will certify the integrated launch system consisting of SLS, Orion, and the European Service Module for future lunar crewed missions.
Artemis II is a roughly 10-day mission that will travel around the Moon and return to Earth with crew members Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency.
Artemis II will carry four astronauts inside the Orion spacecraft on a 10-day circumlunar mission with return to Earth.
Artemis II will undergo wet dress rehearsals including propellant loading and propellant drain rehearsals prior to launch, with an earliest possible launch date of February 6, 2026.
Airbus Space posted on X on 19 January 2026 an image confirming the SLS rocket on the launch pad and the readiness of the launch system for Artemis II.
The SLS configuration used for Artemis II is designed to support crewed flight following the uncrewed Artemis I test.
Artemis II is the first crewed flight of the Artemis program.
The four astronauts aboard Orion on Artemis II will test life support, navigation, and communication systems in operational conditions during a circumlunar flight.
The placement of the SLS rocket on the launch pad constitutes one of the final visible phases before the Artemis II launch and precedes final verification and pre-countdown preparations.
NASA transported the Space Launch System rocket and the Orion spacecraft for Artemis II to Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center on January 17, 2026.
Artemis II is the first crewed flight of the Artemis program planned to fly around the Moon following the uncrewed Artemis I mission.
Artemis II’s mission profile involves a multi-trans-lunar injection burn that will send the crew on a free-return trajectory extending more than 230,000 miles from Earth.