NASA's Artemis II mission, the first crewed flight of the Orion spacecraft, is not currently en route to the Moon. The mission, which will carry four astronauts on a lunar flyby, has faced significant delays. As of early 2026, the launch is officially targeted for no earlier than September 2025, a schedule pushed back from prior plans.
The delay was announced to allow teams to complete extensive testing and address issues identified on the Artemis I mission, including unexpected erosion of the Orion spacecraft's heat shield. NASA officials have emphasized that crew safety is the top priority, requiring thorough resolution of these technical challenges before proceeding.
The Artemis II crew—NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen—continue training for the historic 10-day mission. The flight will test Orion's life support systems with astronauts aboard and pave the way for future Artemis III lunar landings.
Key hardware, including the core stage and solid rocket boosters for the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, has been assembled. However, final integration and a comprehensive testing campaign must be completed before a firm launch date can be set, with further delays remaining a possibility.
