NASA’s Artemis II Launches On Mission Aiming To Go Further Than Man Has Gone Before
NASA’s Artemis II mission launched at 6:35 p.m. on April 1 from the Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Florida.
The rocket and Orion spacecraft launched after the 10-minute hold was extended according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) live update page. Engineers looked into a sensor on the “launch abort system’s attitude control motor battery” that was “believed to be an instrumentation issue” that would not influence take-off, according to the space agency. A unanimous “go” was later given under the direction of Artemis II Launch Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson.
Liftoff.
The Artemis II mission launched from @NASAKennedy at 6:35pm ET (2235 UTC), propelling four astronauts on a journey around the Moon.
Artemis II will pave the way for future Moon landings, as well as the next giant leap — astronauts on Mars. pic.twitter.com/ENQA4RTqAc
— NASA (@NASA) April 1, 2026
The twin solid boosters had separated as of 6:37 p.m. and the jettison fairings that enclose the launch abort system and the service module as of 6:38 p.m., NASA said. The Space Launch System’s (SLS) main cut off was completed by 6:43 p.m. and the core stage separated from the Orion spacecraft as well as the interim cryogenic propulsion stage. The space agency said the Artemis II has begun upper-stage operations. (Read more from “NASA’s Artemis II Launches On Mission Aiming To Go Further Than Man Has Gone Before” HERE)
