NASA could launch manned moon mission by February 2026

(NEXSTAR) – NASA announced the Artemis II mission to ferry astronauts around the moon for the first time in more than 50 years, could launch earlier than expected. 

Acting Deputy Associate Administrator Lakiesha Hawkins said the mission, scheduled to launch no later than April 2026, could launch as soon as Feb. 5, 2026. 

“When we are ready to safely launch, we are going to accelerate as much as we can,” Hawkins said. 

The NASA SLS Rocket and Orion Capsule will carry four astronauts — three American and one Canadian. NASA engineers said it would need 8.8 million pounds of thrust to lift off. Once the astronauts get into orbit, NASA said the crew will practice maneauvers with the capsule. Then, in the middle of the night, the crew will get a wakeup call to set the course for the moon. 

“Unfortunately, physics cannot be defied,” Jeff Radigan said. “So the crew will get a short nap, they’ll get up, they’ll do the burn and then they’ll go back to sleep again.” 

From the far side of the moon, the astronauts will use the moon’s gravitational pull to slingshot back to earth. 

This time, NASA said, it’ll stream video so people on Earth can feel like they’re part of the mission. 

“It is fully our intention to turn us into somewhat of the Artemis generation, just as the Apollo generation,” Hawkins said. 

If this mission is successful, NASA aims to launch Artemis 3 in 2027. It would put people back on the moon for the first time since the Apollo era.