Countdown begins for long-awaited Artemis II moon mission

CBS News
March 30, 2026
3 min read

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Artemis II moon mission countdown began, with launch scheduled for early Wednesday evening.

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NASA's Artemis II mission entered its final countdown phase Monday, with launch scheduled for early Wednesday evening. Artemis II is the second crewed flight test of NASA's Artemis program and will carry astronauts around the Moon as a critical step toward returning humans to the lunar surface. The mission represents a major milestone in the agency's broader goal to establish sustainable lunar exploration and eventually support missions to Mars. Unlike the uncrewed Artemis I test flight, Artemis II will demonstrate the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft with a full crew aboard, validating systems needed for future lunar landings.

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