After more than 53 years, humans may finally return to the Moon this week

Ars Technica • March 31, 2026 • science

Key Points:

NASA’s Artemis II mission countdown has begun, targeting a launch window starting at 6:24 pm EDT on Wednesday from Kennedy Space Center, with backup opportunities through April 6.
All systems are reported as "go," with favorable weather forecasts showing an 80% chance of acceptable conditions despite minor concerns about rain and lightning.
The mission will send four astronauts on a more than nine-day journey looping beyond the far side of the Moon, reaching farther than any humans have traveled in history and setting a reentry speed record.
Key pre-launch milestones include fueling the Space Launch System rocket, a process previously delayed by hydrogen leaks, but recent repairs have increased confidence in a smooth countdown.
Artemis II is a test flight with no lunar landing; future missions, including Artemis III and IV, will focus on lunar orbit docking and eventual Moon landings, with recent program shifts emphasizing a lunar surface base over an orbital station.

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