WATCH LIVE: NASA holds pre-launch news conference on Artemis II, farthest crewed flight in decades

PBS NewsHour
by Marcia Dunn, Associated Press
March 31, 2026
3 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

NASA holds pre-launch news conference for Artemis II mission sending four astronauts on the farthest crewed spaceflight in decades.

AI Summary

NASA is holding a pre-launch news conference ahead of the Artemis II mission, which will send four astronauts on the farthest crewed spaceflight in decades. The 32-story Space Launch System rocket is scheduled to lift off Wednesday evening, carrying the crew on a lunar journey that marks a major milestone in NASA's effort to return humans to the Moon. Artemis II represents a significant step forward in the space agency's broader Artemis program, which aims to establish sustained human presence on the lunar surface. The mission will test systems and procedures critical to future Moon landings and longer-duration missions beyond Earth orbit.

Source Coverage Map

15 of 43 tracked sources covered this story

35% coverage
Did Not Cover (28)
ICIJ97AP World News96AP US News96ProPublica95Bellingcat95+23 more

Following this story?

Get notified when new coverage appears

Should this be getting more attention?

You Might Have Missed

Related stories from different sources and perspectives

Meet the Artemis crew in NASA's first astronaut mission to the moon in more than a half-century - AP News
Government Transparency

Meet the Artemis crew in NASA's first astronaut mission to the moon in more than a half-century - AP News

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiigFBVV95cUxOMmtRN0w1TkNJVkotaFhfbVlvclBhTmxOSEtOUktxcmdjcXJNRUZUOUtQQ2VjTU92dVlEajFOaGpqUk1XX1BKUHFhcXNZR0U5VDV4X2k2Mk56M0djMThsVTFNNmJjR25KZ28tNEdJbzRpbFN5ZW1FMlI1YWdIRW90ZktfTXVmWGVsS1E?oc=5" target="_blank">Meet the Artemis crew in NASA's first astronaut mission to the moon in more than a half-century</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

AP NewsMar 28
Watch live: Trump to sign executive order targeting mail-in voting
Politics

Watch live: Trump to sign executive order targeting mail-in voting

President Trump will sign an executive order Tuesday afternoon from the White House. The event is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. EDT. Watch the live video above.

The HillMar 31
WATCH: NASA unveils ambitious $20 billion moon base strategy
Government Transparency

WATCH: NASA unveils ambitious $20 billion moon base strategy

"This time, the goal is to stay," NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said Tuesday as NASA unveiled an ambitious $20 billion moon base strategy.

ABC NewsMar 25
Astronaut who was evacuated from ISS describes ordeal, looks ahead to Artemis II mission
Technology

Astronaut who was evacuated from ISS describes ordeal, looks ahead to Artemis II mission

NASA astronaut Mike Fincke, the astronaut who was medically evacuated from the International Space Station, joined CBS News 24/7 Mornings with more details on the unexpected event and his take on the Artemis II mission to scope the moon.

CBS NewsMar 27
He suddenly couldn't speak in space. NASA astronaut says his medical scare remains unsolved
Health

He suddenly couldn't speak in space. NASA astronaut says his medical scare remains unsolved

The astronaut who prompted NASA's first medical evacuation earlier this year said Friday that doctors still don't know why he suddenly fell sick at the International Space Station.

PBS NewsHourMar 27
Artemis II astronauts arrive at Florida launch site for first moon trip in 53 years - AP News
Government Transparency

Artemis II astronauts arrive at Florida launch site for first moon trip in 53 years - AP News

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikgFBVV95cUxPNDNyUXJTYmVGaE12ZW1xNzc1MFh0c3lycXpMWF81VHg3a0FvNEpmemVYTVlIcXNiaTRxYkhNVmFWN2J5cTJJSFhZY19XUmxka2lEblgtT3hIc1ZCdlJMM1ZzVHFHa3ZTcjI5cmZmTjNURFNtcEtNLXVFdUh4cnlOU3ZlZ0t3LW1PZ21oWV9WSUw5QQ?oc=5" target="_blank">Artemis II astronauts arrive at Florida launch site for first moon trip in 53 years</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

AP NewsMar 27
Read Next
NASA starts countdown for first crewed Moon mission in over 50 years
Technology

NASA starts countdown for first crewed Moon mission in over 50 years

NASA kicked off its two-day countdown Monday for its first crewed Moon mission in over 50 years, aiming for a historic launch from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday evening. The Artemis 2 flight, featuring four astronauts - including the first woman, a person of color, and a non-American on a lunar mission - will circle the Moon and test the agency’s new SLS rocket, a key step toward a future lunar base.

Continue reading

Did this story change how you see things?

Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.

Share this story

Get the daily digest

Save for later

The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.

See our sources