Inside the history of the Artemis II launch

CBS News
April 1, 2026
3 min read

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NASA's Artemis II mission is scheduled to launch, carrying a crewed spacecraft toward lunar orbit as a test before a planned lunar landing.

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NASA's Artemis II is scheduled to launch Wednesday, marking a significant step in the agency's effort to return humans to the moon. The mission will carry a crewed spacecraft toward lunar orbit, building on lessons learned from the Apollo program decades earlier. Jack Kiraly of the Planetary Society and Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison Schmitt discussed the launch's historical importance with CBS News, offering perspectives on how Artemis II fits into NASA's broader lunar exploration strategy. The mission represents a crucial test of NASA's Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft before a planned crewed lunar landing. Success would demonstrate the readiness of these systems and advance the timeline for putting astronauts back on the lunar surface.

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