Aurora
Tuning into the cosmos…
LoadingSpace Launch System (SLS)
SLS Block 1 | Artemis II
SLS Block 1 | Artemis II launched on Wed, Apr 1, 2026, 10:35 PM UTC — a National Aeronautics and Space Administration mission.
Launch SuccessfulNational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Lifted offNET Apr 2026
NET Wed, Apr 1, 2026, 10:35 PM UTC
Live coverage
Watch the webcasts
2 streams available — switch between the provider’s feed, X and others.
Mission profile
The flight at a glance
Space Launch System (SLS)Vehicle
National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationProvider
Launch Complex 39BPad
Kennedy Space Center, FL, USALocation
ArtemisProgram
Human ExplorationMission type
Lunar flybyOrbit
Flight sequence
Mission timeline
Key events from liftoff — ignition, staging, separation and deployment — with their times relative to T0.
- Launch Team On StationsT- 49:50:00
- Countdown StartT- 49:40:00
- Prop Load PreparationsT- 49:40:00
- Orion Power OnT- 45:30:00
- Core Stage Power OnT- 42:20:00
- ICPS Power OnT- 42:10:00
- RS-25 PreparationsT- 39:45:00
- ICPS Power OffT- 35:45:00
- Orion Batteries ChargingT- 33:30:00
- Core Stage Batteries ChargingT- 31:30:00
- ICPS Power OnT- 20:15:00
- Pad CloseoutT- 15:00:00
- Rocket Cavity InertingT- 14:15:00
- GLS ActivationT- 13:15:00
- Built-In HoldT- 12:35:00
- GO for Prop LoadT- 10:50:00
- Orion Cold SoakT- 10:50:00
- Core Stage LOX Transfer ChillT- 10:40:00
- Core Stage LH2 ChillT- 10:40:00
- Core Stage LOX Prop ChillT- 10:25:00
- Core Stage LH2 Slow FillT- 09:55:00
- Resume T-ClockT- 09:50:00
- Core Stage LOX Slow FillT- 09:40:00
- Core Stage LOX Fast FillT- 09:30:00
- Core Stage LH2 Fast FillT- 09:25:00
- ICPS LH2 ChillT- 09:05:00
- ICPS LH2 Fast FillT- 08:30:00
- Core Stage LH2 ToppingT- 08:00:00
- Core Stage LH2 ReplenishT- 07:55:00
- ICPS LH2 Vent & Relief TestT- 07:45:00
- ICPS LH2 ToppingT- 07:20:00
- ICPS LH2 ReplenishT- 07:05:00
- ICPS LOX Prop ChillT- 06:40:00
- Core Stage LOX ToppingT- 06:40:00
- Orion Comms OnT- 06:40:00
- ICPS LOX Fast FillT- 06:30:00
- Closeout Crew AssembleT- 06:10:00
- Stage Pad RescueT- 06:10:00
- Core Stage LOX ReplenishT- 06:05:00
- Weather CheckT- 06:00:00
- ICPS LOX Vent & Relief TestT- 05:45:00
- ICPS LOX ToppingT- 05:30:00
- ICPS LOX ReplenishT- 05:10:00
- All Stages ReplenishT- 05:10:00
- Built-In HoldT- 05:10:00
- Closeout Crew To White RoomT- 05:10:00
- Flight Crew To PadT- 04:40:00
- Orion BoardingT- 04:00:00
- Hatch ClosureT- 03:40:00
- Hatch Seal ChecksT- 03:10:00
- Hatch CloseoutsT- 02:20:00
- LAS Hatch ClosureT- 01:40:00
- TPS ScanT- 01:10:00
- Test Director BriefingT- 00:50:00
- Pad ClearT- 00:50:00
- Built-In HoldT- 00:40:00
- Orion Comms TransitionT- 00:25:00
- Ready PollT- 00:17:00
- Visors DownT- 00:15:00
- Short PurgeT- 00:14:00
- Terminal CountT- 00:10:00
- Crew Access Arm RetractT- 00:08:00
- Tank PressT- 00:06:00
- Orion Pyros ArmT- 00:06:00
- Orion Internal PowerT- 00:06:00
- Core Stage LH2 Replenish EndT- 00:05:57
- LAS AvailableT- 00:05:20
- LH2 High Flow Bleed CheckT- 00:04:40
- FTS ArmT- 00:04:30
- Core Stage APU StartT- 00:04:00
- Core Stage LOX Replenish EndT- 00:04:00
- ICPS LOX Replenish EndT- 00:03:30
- Purge Sequence 4T- 00:03:10
- ICPS Internal PowerT- 00:02:02
- Booster Internal PowerT- 00:02:00
- Core Stage Internal PowerT- 00:01:30
- ICPS Terminal CountT- 00:01:20
- ICPS LH2 Replenish EndT- 00:00:50
- GO for LaunchT- 00:00:33
- Core Stage Terminal CountT- 00:00:30
- Hydrogen Burnoff IgnitersT- 00:00:12
- Core Stage Engine StartT- 00:00:10
- IgnitionT- 00:00:06
- Booster IgnitionT+ 00:00:00
- LiftoffT+ 00:00:00
- Tower ClearT+ 00:00:09
- SupersonicT+ 00:00:56
- Max-QT+ 00:01:10
- SRB SeparationT+ 00:02:08
- Launch Escape JettisonT+ 00:03:18
- MECOT+ 00:08:06
- Stage 2 SeparationT+ 00:08:18
- ICPS RL10 Nozzle ExtensionT+ 00:08:28
- Orion Solar Arrays DeploymentT+ 00:20:00
- Perigee Raise BurnT+ 00:49:00
- Apogee Raise BurnT+ 01:47:57
- Orion SeparationT+ 03:24:15
- Proximity Operations EndT+ 04:35:00
- Orion Separation BurnT+ 04:52:00
- ICPS Disposal BurnT+ 05:00:00
- CubeSats DeploymentT+ 05:04:00
- Perigee Raise BurnT+ 13:44:00
- Translunar Injection BurnT+ 25:37:00
- Orbital Trajectory Correction BurnT+ 47:25:00
- Orbital Trajectory Correction BurnT+ 48:07:00
- Crew CPR DemoT+ 50:05:00
- DSN Comms TestT+ 53:25:00
- Orbital Trajectory Correction BurnT+ 72:12:00
- Lunar Flyby Imaging Plan ReviewT+ 75:40:00
- Lunar Flyby Imaging Plan ReviewT+ 77:45:00
- Spacesuits DemoT+ 92:30:00
- Orbital Trajectory Correction BurnT+ 101:23:00
- Orion Enters Lunar SOIT+ 102:59:00
- Lunar FlybyT+ 118:00:00
- Lunar Closest ApproachT+ 121:23:00
- Max Distance To EarthT+ 121:26:00
- Orion Exits Lunar SOIT+ 139:47:00
- Lunar Flyby DebriefT+ 141:10:00
- Orbital Trajectory Correction BurnT+ 148:23:00
- Radiation Shielding DemoT+ 169:50:00
- Manual Piloting DemoT+ 172:20:00
- Orthostatic Intolerance Garment TestT+ 191:15:00
- Orthostatic Intolerance Garment TestT+ 194:10:00
- Orbital Trajectory Correction BurnT+ 196:33:00
- Orbital Trajectory Correction BurnT+ 212:33:00
- Crew Entry PreparationsT+ 214:30:00
- Orion Service Module JettisonT+ 217:13:00
- Orion Raise BurnT+ 217:16:00
- Atmospheric EntryT+ 217:33:00
- Orion SplashdownT+ 217:46:00
- Orion RCS SafingT+ 217:53:00
- Orion Power OffT+ 218:01:00
Flight simulation
Ascent to orbit
A representative gravity-turn climb for Space Launch System (SLS) to Lunar flyby. Illustrative model — not this mission’s live telemetry.
Mission timeT+0:00
Altitude0.0 km
Velocity0.00 km/s
PhaseLiftoff
T+0:00 / 18:20
SimulatedRepresentative Space Launch System (SLS) ascent profile — illustrative model, not this mission’s live telemetry.
The mission
Artemis II
Artemis II is the first crewed mission as part of the Artemis program. Artemis II will send a crew of 4 - 3 Americans and 1 Canadian around the moon and return them back to Earth. The mission will test the core systems of NASA's Orion spacecraft including the critical life support system, among other systems which could not be tested during Artemis I due to the lack of crew onboard.
Around this launch
Related news
No news linked to this launch yet
As coverage publishes, deduplicated articles about this mission will appear here.
Good to know
Frequently asked
What time does SLS Block 1 | Artemis II launch?
SLS Block 1 | Artemis II is scheduled to lift off Wed, Apr 1, 2026, 10:35 PM UTC.
Where can I watch SLS Block 1 | Artemis II?
Watch the official live webcast embedded on this page — it goes live shortly before liftoff.
Who is launching SLS Block 1 | Artemis II?
SLS Block 1 | Artemis II is an National Aeronautics and Space Administration mission flying on a Space Launch System (SLS).
Where does SLS Block 1 | Artemis II launch from?
It lifts off from Launch Complex 39B, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA.