How to view NASA's first crewed moon mission in 50 years

      A rocket with four astronauts is scheduled to launch this week.

      NASA has announced that the countdown for the first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years has begun.

      The countdown clock on-site commenced at 4:44 p.m. ET on Monday, with the Artemis II mission set to launch in just two days. For complete information on how to view the liftoff live, continue reading.

      Artemis II will take off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and will be NASA’s first crewed launch utilizing the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft.

      Onboard the Orion will be NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, as well as CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

      Hansen is embarking on his inaugural space journey, whereas the other astronauts have participated in one mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

      The crew will spend 10 days in space conducting tests on the spacecraft's systems while orbiting the moon before heading back to Earth.

      A successful Artemis II mission will pave the way for NASA to land two astronauts on the moon’s surface in Artemis IV, projected for 2028. Looking ahead, NASA aims to establish a lunar base where astronauts can live and work for extended timeframes, akin to their operations on the ISS currently.

      How to watch

      NASA is aiming for a launch time of 6:24 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 1, from the Kennedy Space Center for the Artemis II mission.

      A livestream of tanking operations will commence at 7:45 a.m. ET on Wednesday on NASA’s YouTube channel, which will continue to show preparations and the launch itself. Comprehensive launch coverage on NASA+ will begin at 12:50 p.m. ET on Wednesday. The same livestream can also be viewed on NASA’s X account, Facebook, and Twitch. The video player embedded at the top of this page will feature the same feed.

      There is a possibility that a technical or weather-related issue could affect the launch schedule. We will provide updates as soon as we receive information.

      What to expect

      The livestream will feature crew members approaching the rocket, perspectives from inside and outside the Orion capsule, along with commentary explaining the events. Several cameras will track the SLS rocket as it launches into space, with communication between the crew and Mission Control also included in the livestream.

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      Why this week's moon mission holds special significance for Jeremy Hansen

      We are just days away from the first crewed Artemis mission!

      NASA is making final preparations for the highly anticipated Artemis II mission, which will see astronauts heading towards the moon for the first time in over fifty years. The agency is aiming for a launch at 6:24 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 1, from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

      Artemis II crew prepares for lunar orbit – and Orion’s cosmic lavatory

      "It's the one spot we can achieve a sense of solitude during the mission."

      Four astronauts are about to begin a monumental journey that will take them around the moon in a spacecraft roughly the size of a large camper van. During the Artemis II mission, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency, will spend 10 days inside the Orion capsule after launching into space aboard the SLS rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, hopefully next week.

      It’s here! NASA unveils the complete livestream schedule for the crewed moon mission

      Coverage will commence on Friday.

      Anticipation is rising as NASA is only a few days away from sending four astronauts on a journey around the moon. On Wednesday, the agency released its schedule for coverage of the final preparations and main event, including a Q&A session with the astronauts this Friday, the launch on Wednesday, April 1, and ongoing updates as the crew travels to the moon.