NASA initiated the final countdown Monday for Artemis 2, humanity's first crewed lunar mission since Apollo 17 in 1972. The 32-story Space Launch System rocket stands poised at Kennedy Space Center for a Wednesday evening launch carrying four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the moon.
The countdown began at 4:44 p.m. local time, targeting a 6:24 p.m. liftoff on April 1. After spending one day in Earth orbit, the Orion capsule will propel the crew toward the moon for a flyby mission without landing, ending with a Pacific Ocean splashdown.
Our team has worked extremely hard to get us to this moment. Certainly all indications are right now we are in excellent, excellent shape.
Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Launch Director — France 24
The mission marks a significant departure from Apollo's all-male crews. Artemis 2 includes Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency's Jeremy Hansen. Koch will become the first woman to travel to the moon, Glover the first Black astronaut, and Hansen the first non-American.
Technical preparations overcame multiple setbacks that delayed the original February launch date. Hydrogen fuel leaks initially grounded the mission, followed by a clogged helium pressurization line that forced the rocket's return to the hangar last month. The vehicle returned to the launch pad a week and a half ago.
France 24 presents the mission as a historic milestone with technical focus on countdown preparations. The outlet emphasizes NASA's confidence in mission readiness after overcoming technical setbacks.
Daily Sabah highlights the diversity aspects of the mission crew and quotes astronaut Victor Glover's inspirational message. The outlet frames the mission as representing progress in inclusive space exploration.
Mercopress emphasizes the international collaboration aspects and technical details of the mission. The outlet focuses on the European contributions and the mission's role as a systems test for future lunar landings.
Weather forecasters predict an 80 percent chance of favorable conditions, with cloud cover and surface winds as the primary concerns. NASA has a six-day launch window through April 6, with one opportunity per day before standing down until month's end.
The free countries of the world are doing something that no country can do alone.
Amit Kshatriya, NASA Associate Administrator — Mercopress
The mission will test critical life support systems including oxygen supply, temperature control, and air purification ahead of future lunar landings. European partners contributed the service module through Airbus and the European Space Agency, highlighting the international scope of the Artemis program.
During the lunar flyby, crew members will observe areas of the moon's far side never before seen by human eyes. Communications with Earth will be interrupted for approximately 40 minutes during this phase. If launched within the current window, the astronauts will surpass Apollo 13's distance record, traveling beyond 400,000 kilometers from Earth.
Girl power and that's awesome, and that young brown boys and girls can look at me and go 'Hey, he looks like me and he's doing what???'
Victor Glover, Artemis 2 Pilot — Daily Sabah
The mission represents more than technological achievement. Glover expressed hope that diverse representation will inspire young people while looking forward to a future when such firsts become routine aspects of human space exploration.