How to view NASA's inaugural crewed moon mission in fifty years

      A rocket that will take four astronauts is set to launch this week.

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

      The countdown clock began at 4:44 p.m. ET on Monday, anticipating the launch of the Artemis II mission in just two days. Continue reading for full information on how to watch the liftoff live.

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

      Onboard the Orion are NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

      Hansen is embarking on his first journey into space, while the other astronauts have all previously participated in one mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

      The crew will spend 10 days in space testing the spacecraft's systems as they fly around the moon before returning to Earth.

      A successful mission will pave the way for NASA to land two astronauts on the lunar surface in Artemis IV, slated for 2028. Looking even further ahead, NASA aims to establish a lunar base where astronauts can live and work for extended durations, similar to their operations aboard the ISS.

      How to watch

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

      A livestream of tanking operations will kick off at 7:45 a.m. ET on Wednesday via NASA's YouTube channel, continuing with coverage of preparations and the launch. Comprehensive launch coverage on NASA+ will commence at 12:50 p.m. ET on Wednesday. The same livestream will also be accessible on NASA's X account, Facebook, and Twitch. The video player featured at the top of this page will stream the same feed.

      A technical issue or adverse weather could potentially affect the launch schedule. We'll provide updates as soon as new information is available.

      What to expect

      The livestream will display the crew members traveling to the rocket, interior and exterior views from the Orion capsule, and commentary covering the events. Multiple cameras will follow the SLS rocket as it ascends, with communications between the crew and Mission Control also included in the livestream.

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      Why this week's moon mission is particularly significant for Jeremy Hansen

      We're just days away from the inaugural crewed Artemis mission!

      NASA is completing final preparations for the highly anticipated Artemis II mission, which will mark the first time in over fifty years that astronauts will travel to the moon. The agency plans to 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 unique restroom

      "It's the one place we can go during the mission where we can truly feel alone."

      Four astronauts are set to embark on a remarkable journey around the moon in a spacecraft approximately the size of a large camper van. During the Artemis II mission, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with CSA's Jeremy Hansen, will spend 10 days inside the Orion capsule after being launched into space by 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 begins on Friday.

      Anticipation is growing as NASA approaches the launch of four astronauts on a mission around the moon. On Wednesday, the agency announced its schedule for the final preparations and main event, including a Q&A session with the astronauts this Friday, the launch on Wednesday, April 1, and regular updates as the crew heads toward the moon.