Joe Skipper/Reuters
04/01/26 21:26
Carney congratulates Jeremy Hansen
Today, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Colonel Jeremy Hansen makes history as the first Canadian to venture to the Moon. With Artemis II, Canada becomes only the second nation on Earth to send an astronaut on a lunar mission. This remarkable achievement is a testament to Colonel Hansen’s exceptional skill, and to the decades of discipline, dedication, and perseverance that brought him to this moment. It is also a testament to Canada and our world-class science, our cutting-edge technology, and our remarkable astronauts.
— Prime Minister Mark Carney
Canada is a nation of explorers, builders, and innovators. Today Colonel Jeremy Hansen carries that legacy forward as he becomes first Canadian to venture to the Moon. pic.twitter.com/7euHFwhs5Y
— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) April 1, 2026
- Reuters
04/01/26 20:49
Moon mission proceeding on track
- Ivan Semeniuk
The second burn that raises the spacecraft into a long, 24-hour orbit has succeeded.
That means the crew is staying in space and on track for the engine burn tomorrow that will send them to the moon.
04/01/26 20:35
Jeremy Hansen begins historic journey
NASA launched four astronauts on the first crewed lunar voyage in more than half a century on Artemis II. Canadian crewmember Jeremy Hansen called it a mission for all humanity via radio in the lead up to the launch.
The Globe and Mail
- Ivan Semeniuk
Marking the first time that humans have travelled beyond low Earth orbit in more than 50 years, Artemis II lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 6:35 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
The intense glare of the rocket’s powerful exhaust made for a striking sight as it roared upward into a clear blue sky brightly illuminated by the setting sun.
The rocket then arced eastward, pushing its crew toward outer space with increasing speed and remained visible as a glowing spark that persisted for more than three minutes before receding from view.
04/01/26 20:03
What does the Artemis II crew do now?
People observe the launch of Artemis II from the A. Max Brewer Bridge in Titusville, Fla.Gerardo Mora/Getty Images
The four astronauts will be sticking close to home for the next day or so, checking out the capsule in orbit around Earth.
Later tonight the upper stage of the rocket will separate, and the crew will manually fly the Orion capsule toward it to practice docking, preparing for future missions to the moon’s surface.
Tomorrow night they will fire Orion’s main engine to escape Earth’s gravity and head for the moon.
- The Associated Press
04/01/26 19:46
Mission gets closer to official success
- Ivan Semeniuk
Following a picture-perfect launch, NASA’s Artemis II has now crossed two additional milestones needed for a successful mission.
They have deployed solar panels to generate power for the Orion capsule and they have completed the first burn of the rocket’s upper stage to put it into a stable orbit around Earth.
The next burn comes in approximately 45 minutes.
04/01/26 19:34
Canadians react to launch at watch parties
Space enthusiasts gather for an Artemis II watch party at the Gerstein Science Information Centre in Toronto.Carlos Osorio/Reuters
People stand on Elgin Street watching an Artemis II livestream displayed on the Kipnes Lantern of the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.Justin Tang/The Canadian Press
04/01/26 19:00
Crew reaches orbit
The four astronauts headed to the moon have reached orbit. They will circle the Earth for about 25 hours before catapulting toward the moon.
- The Associated Press
04/01/26 18:55
Artemis blasted off from same site as Apollo
Joe Skipper/Reuters
Artemis II launched from the same Florida site that sent Apollo’s explorers to the moon so long ago.
The handful still alive cheered this next generation’s grand adventure as the Space Launch System rocket thundered into the early evening sky, a nearly full moon beckoning some 400,000 kilometres away.
Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman led the charge into space with “Let’s go to the moon!” accompanied by pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen.
It was the most diverse lunar crew ever with the first woman, person of color and non-U.S. citizen riding in NASA’s new Orion capsule.
Five minutes into the flight, Commander Wiseman saw the team’s target: “We have a beautiful moonrise, we’re headed right at it,” he said from the capsule.
- The Associated Press
04/01/26 18:36
Liftoff!
- Ivan Semeniuk
Liftoff.
— NASA (@NASA) April 1, 2026
The Artemis II mission launched from @NASAKennedy at 6:35pm ET (2235 UTC), propelling four astronauts on a journey around the Moon.
Artemis II will pave the way for future Moon landings, as well as the next giant leap — astronauts on Mars. pic.twitter.com/ENQA4RTqAc
Jeremy Hansen’s journey to the moon has begun.
The Artemis II test flight, marking the first time that humans have travelled beyond low Earth orbit in more than fifty years, lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
04/01/26 18:24
All systems go
- Ivan Semeniuk
After a final poll, Artemis II is a go for launch. Launch weather is go. The countdown is expected to resume shortly at the 10-minute mark.
04/01/26 18:13
Artemis II cleared for launch after battery issue
NASA has cleared the mission for launch after a battery issue was resolved. It is believed to be an instrumentation issue and not a problem with the battery itself.
- The Associated Press
04/01/26 17:57
Launch window nears
- Ivan Semeniuk
The launch window opens in about half an hour but it endures for 180 minutes.
Currently the countdown is in a 10-minute hold which could continue well into the launch window depending on whatever technical issues need to be resolved.
04/01/26 17:47
The Apollo generation, in their own words
In this photo provided by NASA, JoAnn Morgan, centre, watches the launch of Apollo 11 from the launch firing room, in July, 1969.The Associated Press
Charlie Mars, 90, who worked on Apollo’s command and lunar modules: “Because it was the first time, there was an energy. There was a passion that probably is not exactly the same today and hasn’t been for a while.”
JoAnn Morgan, 85, who was the lone female engineer inside launch control during the Apollo 11 landing: “It will be even greater when they actually have a woman who plants her boots on the moon.”
Charlie Duke, 90, Apollo 16 moonwalker: “If the first ones are successful and we start landing at the south pole, I think millions are going to be watching that. I know I will if I’m still here.”
- The Associated Press
04/01/26 17:38
Less than an hour to go before launch window opens
NASA's Artemis II moon rocket sits on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center.Chris O'Meara/The Associated Press
- Ivan Semeniuk
The closeout crew is detaching the gantry known as the “white room” from the rocket before leaving the launch pad.
We have just heard the launch team is investigating an issue that has cropped up with a battery on the rocket and troubleshooting to see if this is a problem.
Meanwhile, the skies are clearing and the weather outlook has now improved to 90 per cent favourable for a launch.
04/01/26 17:23
NASA resolves technical issue, astronauts strapped in
- Ivan Semeniuk
More good news for the mission. A problem with the flight-termination system has been resolved and Artemis II remains a go for launch.
The final hatch has been closed and soon ground crews will be leaving the area around the rocket ahead of launch.
04/01/26 17:10
NASA probing technical issue
There is an unspecified issue with the rocket’s flight-termination system, which would send a self-destruct signal to the rocket in case it veered off course and was aiming for a populated area.
“Pretty unique situation here,” NASA commentator Derrol Nail explained.
One of the launch controllers has been called into service to dash over to the adjoining Vehicle Assembly Building to grab space shuttle-era equipment, he said. He stressed that it is not a problem with the rocket itself.
“At this moment the range is no-go, but that is not stopping us from moving forward in the countdown,” Nail reported.
- The Associated Press
04/01/26 17:02
Weather conditions look promising for launch
People gather in Titusville, Fla., to watch the launch.Marco Bello/Reuters
- Ivan Semeniuk
After a muggy spell this afternoon and some scattered rain here at the Kennedy Space Center, the weather now is looking fresher and brighter with an offshore breeze driving clouds back.
There are still ways that weather could be an issue for Artemis II but overall the prognosis remains a good one.
However, the launch depends not only on weather but technical issues that can arise in the final hours.
The rocket must launch between 6:24 p.m. and 8:24 p.m. today or wait to try again in 24 or 48 hours.
04/01/26 16:48
Canadian Space Agency president praises Jeremy Hansen
- Video editing by Sarah Espedido
Speaking of Artemis II astronaut – and first-time space flier – Jeremy Hansen, Canadian Space Agency President Lisa Campbell told NASA on Wednesday:
“We’re very proud. He’s so ready. He’s been waiting for this his whole life, preparing, training, and he’s a wonderful example of Canada.”
- The Canadian Press
04/01/26 16:18
Astronauts enter Orion capsule
Jeremy Hansen fist bumps a ground crew member before entering the Orion crew capsule.NASA TV/Reuters
- Ivan Semeniuk
The Artemis II astronauts are in the Orion capsule and the close-out crew is going through their checks to ensure the capsule is ready to be pressurized.
The astronauts are seated in two rows with Victor Glover and Reid Wiseman in the front, sitting on the left and right sides. Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen are left and right in the back.
This is a history-making crew, that includes the first Black astronaut, the first woman and the first non-American to undertake a journey around the moon.
04/01/26 15:52
Will Artemis II land on the moon?
The goal of Artemis II is to send four astronauts on a looping trajectory around the moon’s far side. During the 10-day trip, crew members will monitor the performance of their Orion capsule, and potentially see regions of the lunar surface that have not yet been glimpsed by human eyes.
- Globe staff
04/01/26 15:28
Elmo cheers on astronauts
04/01/26 14:32
Astronauts arrive at launch pad
The crew of the Artemis II mission in front of the van taking them to the launch pad on Wednesday.Joe Skipper/Reuters
The astronauts are suited up and arrived at launch pad 39B for the Artemis II mission. NASA’s planned lunar fly-around by four astronauts would be the first moon trip in 53 years.
Waving to family, colleagues and news photographers, the crew boarded the so-called astrovan for the 9-mile ride to the launch pad and their awaiting SLS rocket.
NASA’s launch team has loaded more than 700,000 gallons of fuel into the 32-storey Space Launch System rocket early Wednesday, setting the stage for the Artemis II mission.
The Space Launch System rocket is poised to blast off Wednesday evening with a two-hour launch window beginning at 6:24 p.m. ET at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Artemis II crew members walk out of the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building ahead of the rocket launch on Wednesday.Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
- The Associated Press
04/01/26 14:32
Who are Apollo and Artemis?
The full moon rises over the city of Doha in Qatar on Wednesday.KARIM JAAFAR/AFP/Getty Images
Artemis is the twin sister of Apollo in Greek mythology. They are the children of Zeus and Leto. Artemis has long been associated with the moon.
While the Artemis name builds on the Apollo program and pays homage to it, “there is no way we could be that same mission or ever hope to even be,” said NASA astronaut Christina Koch, part of the Artemis II crew.
The Apollo program was all about beating the Russians to the moon and planting the U.S. flag. NASA sent 24 astronauts to the moon between 1968 and 1972, including 12 moonwalkers.
Now China is the competition. NASA is striving for a long-term lunar presence under Artemis, with Mars to follow.
– The Associated Press
04/01/26 14:28
What’s the deal with the cards?
Before their highly anticipated walkout, commander Reid Wiseman and his crew played a quick card game with NASA’s chief astronaut Scott Tingle.
It’s a preflight tradition since the space shuttle era.
Losing is good: It means the astronaut has gotten rid of all bad luck before launching.
The four thanked the suit techs and posed for photos, keeping a safe distance from many of the bystanders to avoid germs. They then went down the elevator at the Neil Armstrong Operations & Checkout Building and walk out to a barrage of cameras and cheers.
They’ll take a custom-designed astrovan for the ride to the launch pad
– The Associated Press
04/01/26 14:23
Wiseman gets set to take command
Commander Reid Wiseman poses for a photo with his family as he walks out of the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at the Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday.Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
04/01/26 14:04
Where is Artemis II launching from?
– Globe staff
The Artemis II mission will make its historic launch from the Kennedy Space Center near Cape Canaveral, Fla.
04/01/26 13:50
Excited Chris Hadfield sports space socks
– Globe staff
Chris Hadfield, retired Canadian astronaut and former commander of the International Space Station, is all set for today’s expected launch, lucky socks and all.
In 2013, Mr. Hadfield gained popularity for performing a cover of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” – from space.
04/01/26 13:33
Canada’s Jeremy Hansen suits up for moon mission
– Ivan Semeniuk
Col. Jeremy Hansen suits up ahead of the Artemis II mission.Ivan Semeniuk
We’re now seeing Canada’s Jeremy Hansen suiting up.
Col. Hansen has practiced donning this suit countless times as part of his training but this marks the first time for a prospective launch. After 17 years as a Canadian Space Agency astronaut, Artemis II will be his first trip to space.
It is also the first flight for a Canadian astronaut in more than seven years, one of the longest gaps in the history of the Canadian space program.
04/01/26 13:17
Rocket fuel tanks full, crew members begin suiting up
– Ivan Semeniuk
Victor Glover on the left and Reid Wiseman on the right, suiting up for an Artemis II launch attempt on Wednesday.Ivan Semeniuk
This is what people here are very happy to see. Crew members are suiting up for launch. (Here we see Victor Glover on the left and Reid Wiseman on the right.)
All four fuel tanks on the rocket are full, the weather is still showing favourable overall and at this point it’s certainly looking like there will be a launch attempt today.
04/01/26 12:50
What’s the difference between L-minus and T-minus?
People gather ahead of the rocket launch in Titusville, Fla., on Wednesday.Marco Bello/Reuters
L-minus tracks the overall time to liftoff, counting down the days, hours and minutes away before the planned blastoff. It doesn’t include built-in holds, or pauses – that’s T-minus time.
The T-minus countdown in the final 10 minutes is where nerves tense up and hearts start pounding. Automated software kicks off a series of highly choreographed milestones.
During this period, the clock can be stopped if a problem is spotted and restarted if it’s fixed in time.
T-0 is the moment of liftoff – zero – when the boosters ignite and the rocket begins its journey.
– The Associated Press
04/01/26 12:43
Artemis II crew receives weather briefing about six hours before launch window opens
– Ivan Semeniuk
We’re about six hours before the launch window opens and crew members should be getting a briefing now on weather conditions for launch.
At midday there’s quite a bit more cloud than there was this morning and the wind has picked up. One advantage of a two-hour long launch window is that if an evening storm whips up there could still be time for it to clear and allow the rocket to launch.
However, if there is a scrub, the rocket will have to be emptied of fuel and all systems reset. Mission managers have said they have the capability to turn things around for an attempt in 24 or 48 hours. Whether they wait one day or two before trying again will depend in part on how deep into the two hour window they get before a scrub.
04/01/26 12:11
What is the Artemis II mission, and when does it launch?
– Globe staff
The Artemis II crew place their mission insignia on the outside door of the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday. It’s a tradition for any crewed mission to place their insignias on the door leaving where they have quarantined and suited up ahead of launch.Kim Shiflett/Supplied
Artemis II is the first mission in more than 50 years that is planned to take astronauts further than about 400 kilometres above Earth’s surface – the orbiting altitude of the International Space Station. It will mark the first crewed launch of the 98-metre-tall rocket – known as the Space Launch System or SLS – carrying the Orion crew capsule with astronauts on board.
The launch is set to take place on April 1 at 6:24 p.m. ET, with a two-hour launch window, provided all final preparations are completed.
04/01/26 11:55
Jeremy Hansen records message for Canadians ahead of launch
– Abigale Subdhan
In a video posted to X, astronaut Jeremy Hansen shared a final message for Canadians ahead of the Artemis II launch.
“Canada, I am thinking of you and am hoping all of you see your greatness reflected in this journey around the moon,” he said in the message that was recorded early Wednesday morning ahead of his final sleep before the journey.
“I’m just so proud of all of you.”
Col. Hansen is set to make history as the first Canadian Space Agency astronaut to fly around the moon.
04/01/26 11:47
Ask us your questions about the Artemis II mission
– Globe staff
What do you want to know about the Artemis II launch? Submit your questions
This week, three Americans and one Canadian will embark on a trip around the moon before safely splashing down in the Pacific Ocean just over nine days later. What do you want to know about the launch, its long preparation time and what they hope to accomplish? Leave your question in the form below, or send an e-mail to audience@globeandmail.com.
04/01/26 11:38
Hydrogen fuelling finishes, a promising sign for Artemis team
– Ivan Semeniuk
The countdown clock runs at Kennedy Space Center in the late morning on Wednesday.Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Hydrogen fuelling is now completed for both the core and upper stages of the Artemis II SLS (space launch system) rocket. Oxygen fuelling of the core stage continues and is 98 per cent complete.
After a long history of delays related to fuelling, the smooth operations so far this morning can only come as welcome news to the Artemis ground team.
04/01/26 11:20
What do astronauts eat in space?
– Globe staff
Quiche, barbecued beef brisket and more, according to a NASA crew menu.
Hot sauces – five of them – are available for dressing up meals, along with spicy mustard and various spreads including strawberry jam and peanut butter.
04/01/26 11:02
The Globe on the ground in Florida
Journalists, including The Globe's Ivan Semeniuk (second row, right), fill the Kennedy Space Center media room as preparations continue for the Artemis II launch on Wednesday.Steve Nesius/Reuters
04/01/26 10:52
Hydrogen fuelling of core stage is completed
– Ivan Semeniuk
A screen shows fuelling of the core stage of the rocket.Ivan Semeniuk
Hydrogen fueling of the core stage has been completed and is now in replenish mode, which means hydrogen is being added as it gradually boils off to make sure the tank is topped up.
This is big a step since the most significant technical issue with the rocket earlier this year occurred during hydrogen loading of the core stage.
Loading of liquid oxygen continues as well as both tanks in the upper stage.
04/01/26 10:46
Fuelling for Artemis II continues
– Ivan Semeniuk
With just under eight hours to go before the launch window opens, fuelling for Artemis II continues apace.
Hydrogen is now being loaded into the upper stage as well as the core stage of the SLS rocket. The role of the core stage is to carry the Orion capsule into a low Earth orbit. The upper stage will take over later in the flight to raise the orbit much higher.
The crew is slated to spend the first 25 hours or so of their mission orbiting Earth and performing checkouts and tests of the capsule before the “translunar injection burn” that sends them out to the moon.
04/01/26 10:33
How NASA is letting people from around the world join the moon mission
– Abigale Subdhan
Is your name set to orbit the moon with NASA’s Artemis II mission?
The space agency collected millions of names as part of its “Send Your Name with Artemis II” effort. People from around the world were able to submit their names on NASA’s website leading up until the launch. The collected names have been added to a SD card that will be loaded aboard the Orion spacecraft.
The names were downloaded onto an SD card that is stored inside “Rise,” the zero gravity indicator designed by second-grader Lucas Ye from California, according to a video posted to Commander Reid Wiseman’s X account.
The crew is bringing 5,647,889 names aboard.
04/01/26 10:16
Media interest grows ahead of mission launch
- Ivan Semeniuk
The packed press room at the Kennedy Space Center ahead of the Artemis II launch on Wednesday.Ivan Semeniuk
The launch window does not open for another eight and a half hours but already this press room for foreign media at the Kennedy Space Center is packed and busy.
Outside, the field is lined with tents, cameras and temporary stages for television crews broadcasting the event.
If a launch occurs today all of this setup will vanish quickly as action shifts to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Tex., which houses mission control for the 10-day journey around the moon and is home base for NASA’s human spaceflight program.
04/01/26 09:55
Artemis II crew starting their day
- Ivan Semeniuk
Artemis II crew members, from left, Mission Spc. Jeremy Hansen, of Canada, Mission Spc. Christina Koch, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Pilot Victor Glover pose for a photo after the crew's arrival at the Kennedy Space Center on Friday in Cape Canaveral, Fla.Chris O'Meara/The Associated Press
We’re told the crew members of Artemis II are now officially waking up and starting their day.
The crew has been time shifting while here in Florida to reflect the fact that the evening launch is not going to be the end of their day but closer to the middle of a day that includes a busy series of activities immediately after launch.
The four crew members are commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Jeremy Hansen who is also a mission specialist on the flight.
04/01/26 09:53
Space enthusiasts watch sunrise ahead of Artemis II launch
Space enthusiasts watch the sunrise from a park in Titusville, Fla., several hours before the planned launch time.GREGG NEWTON/AFP/Getty Images
04/01/26 09:50
The astronauts on the Artemis II mission
The Artemis II crew consists of three Americans and one Canadian: commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch and London, Ont.,-born astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who will make history as the first Canadian Space Agency astronaut to fly around the moon. The mission’s crew was selected in 2023.
Victor Glover, a Navy test pilot, was the first Black astronaut to live and work aboard the space station in 2020 and 2021. He also was one of the first astronauts to launch with SpaceX.
Christina Koch, who will be the first woman to travel to the moon, already holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman. During her 328-day mission at the International Space Station spanning 2019 and 2020, she took part in the first all-female spacewalk.
Artemis II will be Jeremy Hansen’s first flight into space. The former fighter pilot was selected as one of two recruits by the Canadian Space Agency for its astronaut recruitment program in 2009 and began working at the Mission Control Center in Houston in 2011.
Their commander is Reid Wiseman, a retired Navy captain who lived aboard the space station in 2014 and later headed NASA’s astronaut corps. They range in age from 47 to 50.
The four-person crew entered quarantine on March 18 in Houston “to ensure they remain healthy leading up to launch.” They spent time with their families over the weekend at the Kennedy Space Center’s beach house, a spot where astronauts rest before blasting off into space.
- Globe staff, The Associated Press
04/01/26 09:42
Less than nine hours away from launch
- Ivan Semeniuk
The opening of today’s launch window is now less than nine hours away. Fuel loading of the core stage continues in fast fill mode. Both the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen tanks on the core stage are now close to one third full. The weather forecast still points to an 80 per cent chance of a go for launch this evening. There’s a growing sense that we are likely to see a launch attempt today.
04/01/26 09:40
Astronaut Jeremy Hansen’s wife prepares for his lunar mission
As Jeremy Hansen prepares to begin a historic mission to the moon aboard the Artemis II, his wife says his family will be trying to take in every single moment.
If everything goes as planned, Catherine Hansen will be on the roof of the launch control centre at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center Wednesday evening to watch her husband begin a 10-day lunar fly-around.
“I’m really trying to encourage everyone – and very, very specifically myself – to be in that moment and to allow whatever emotions may come,” she told The Canadian Press on Tuesday. “There will be excitement, there will be exhilaration, there will be terror and fear.”
Jeremy Hansen, 50, of London, Ont., will serve as the mission specialist for Artemis II and become the first non-American to travel beyond low Earth orbit. He will be joined by veteran NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch.
For the Hansen family it marks the culmination of 16 years of preparation and the fulfilment of a lifetime dream.
Catherine Hansen, an accomplished obstetrician-gynecologist, met her husband in Moose Jaw, Sask., when she went to watch her brother get his Air Force pilot wings. Jeremy Hansen told her right away he planned to be an astronaut.
She said she initially thought it was “a crazy thing to say out loud,” but after a little contemplation decided that “if he’s saying it out loud, he must really mean it.”
“And as I got to know him, even over that day, weeks, months later, I realized he meant every word of it,” she said with a wide smile. “And we were going to do everything we could to make it happen.”
Catherine Hansen said they had a look at their lives together, what they wanted and how they could both accomplish it.
“I cannot really explain to people how important it is to just lift each other up, and that’s exactly what we’ve done,” she said. “He’s done that with my work and my business. I’ve done that with him and his work.”
They’ve now been married 23 years – most of which they’ve spent connected to NASA.
To watch her husband live out his childhood dream “feels like no less than a miracle,” she said.
– The Canadian Press
04/01/26 09:30
Canadians gathering at museums, libraries to watch moon launch
Canadians across the country are assembling today to watch the Artemis II launch, which is set to send humans back to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years.
The first two-hour launch window opens at 6:24 p.m. ET, with a six-day launch window running through April 6.
People across Canada are gathering at historical sites, museums, libraries and arts centres to watch the launch.
In Vancouver, people are meeting at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, while Halifax residents plan to watch the launch from the Discovery Centre.
If there are no problems today, Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen of London, Ont., will serve as the mission specialist for Artemis II and become the first non-American to travel beyond low Earth orbit.
– The Canadian Press
04/01/26 09:23
How to watch the Artemis II launch
The Artemis II launch will be streamed live on NASA+, NASA’s YouTube channel, and the NASA app.
The official launch broadcast on YouTube begins at 12:50 p.m. ET, though viewers are able to see the tanking process and other mission activities with live commentary in the meanwhile. Liftoff is scheduled for no earlier than 6:24 p.m. ET.
In-person viewing is available at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, but it said on its website that only guests with a “Launch Viewing Package” will be allowed entry on Artemis II launch attempt days.
NASA also released a flight tracker on its website that will be available once Artemis II launches.
04/01/26 09:14
A good sign for today’s launch
- Ivan Semeniuk
The Artemis II ground crew has now shifted to fast fill for both liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen fuel in the rocket’s main (core) stage. This is a good sign for a launch today. There are no signs of issues with the fuelling at this point. Fuelling of the rocket’s upper stage has yet to begin.
04/01/26 09:01
Teams begin to fill SLS rocket with liquid hydrogen and oxygen
- Ivan Semeniuk
A slow fill of propellant is underway on the SLS rocket that is set to fly four astronauts around the moon. The fuelling process begins slowly so that the ultra-cold liquid fuel does not damage the system.
All eyes will be on the hydrogen field loading which delayed the launch of Artemis II and was also an issue ahead of the launch of Artemis I, an uncrewed flight in 2022.
04/01/26 08:14
Artemis II SLS rocket is currently in ‘chill down’
- Ivan Semeniuk
The NASA Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket with the Orion spacecraft is seen at Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center on Tuesday in Cape Canaveral, Fla.John Raoux/The Associated Press
The Artemis II Space Launch System rocket is currently in “chill down”. It is being cooled in advance of loading the liquid hydrogen and oxygen fuel for its upper and lower stages. To be ready for launch the rocket will need to be loaded with approximately one million kilograms of fuel in the coming hours.
04/01/26 07:57
T-10 and half hours to go
- Ivan Semeniuk
With 10 and a half hours to go before the opening of today’s launch window, the launch team has been given the go-ahead to start loading the rocket with fuel. This is what everyone will be watching this morning.
During a dress rehearsal in February, hydrogen leaks that appeared while the rocket was being fueled delayed the launch by a month. Then a second issue with the rocket’s upper stage ultimately pushed it to April.
04/01/26 07:45
A sunny arrival to Kennedy Space Center
- Ivan Semeniuk
Early arrivals at the Kennedy Space Centre's press center were treated to a gorgeous sunrise over the launch complex.Ivan Semeniuk/The Globe and Mail
Early arrivals at the Kennedy Space Center’s press center this morning were treated to a gorgeous sunrise over the launch complex. So far the skies are mainly clearly. Those cumulus clouds in the distance are currently sitting offshore. If weather became an issue for the launch later today it may be because of afternoon storms that can develop and move inland. Yesterday, Mark Burger at the center’s launch weather office put the chances of weather interfering with the launch at about 20 percent today.
04/01/26 07:00
Hello from Cape Canaveral
- Ivan Semeniuk
This is Ivan Semeniuk at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral in Florida. The launch window for the Artemis II mission that aims to fly four astronauts around the moon, including Canada’s Jeremey Hansen, has a good chance of lifting off today as early as 6:24 pm.
With less than 12 hours remaining on the countdown clock, I’ll be here through the day watching final preparations on the way to a possible launch.
04/01/26 07:00
The steps to make a journey to the far side of the moon
Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen will be the first Canadian to fly beyond low Earth orbit. Hansen explains the stages of the Artemis II, a mission that will fly astronauts around the Moon’s far side.
04/01/26 07:00
What to know about NASA’s historic Artemis II moon mission
Photographers set up remote cameras near NASA's Artermis II moon rocket on Launch Pad 39-B just before sunrise at the Kennedy Space Center on Tuesday.Chris O'Meara/The Associated Press
Long delayed by a series of technical challenges, NASA is now preparing to launch Artemis II today in its first human mission to fly around the moon in more than 50 years.
The mission will send four astronauts, including Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, on an approximately 10-day journey around the moon and back, sending them some 406,000 kilometres into space - the farthest humans have ever traveled.
Artemis II
flight path
Orion will travel more than
400,000 km from Earth and
could set a new record for
the farthest humans have
ever gone into space
Moon
Outbound
Lift-off from Cape Canaveral
Two minutes after launch, boosters
separate followed by launch abort system
Eight minutes after launch ICPS and Orion
separate from Core stage. Orion’s solar
arrays unfurl
After 90-minute orbit, ICPS fires engines
to raise Orion to higher Earth orbit.
Crew begins multiple system checks
If everything is in order, Orion separates
from ICPS.Then, astronauts manually fly
Orion toward and away from ICPS, practising
proximity operations for future missions
Around 23 hours later, Orion Service Module
carries out Translunar Injection (TLI) burn –
sending Orion on a trajectory around
the moon
Inbound
After lunar flyby on Day 6, gravity draws
Orion back toward Earth
Just before re-entry, Orion’s crew module
separates from service module
Capsule re-enters atmosphere at speed of
32,187 km/h and temperatures of up to
2,200°C
Series of parachutes slow craft before
splashdown in Pacific Ocean
THE GLOBE AND MAIL, Sources: GRAPHIC NEWS;
NASA; ESA; Lockheed Martin
Artemis II
flight path
Orion will travel more than
400,000 km from Earth and
could set a new record for
the farthest humans have
ever gone into space
Moon
Outbound
Lift-off from Cape Canaveral
Two minutes after launch, boosters
separate followed by launch abort system
Eight minutes after launch ICPS and Orion
separate from Core stage. Orion’s solar
arrays unfurl
After 90-minute orbit, ICPS fires engines
to raise Orion to higher Earth orbit.
Crew begins multiple system checks
If everything is in order, Orion separates
from ICPS.Then, astronauts manually fly
Orion toward and away from ICPS, practising
proximity operations for future missions
Around 23 hours later, Orion Service Module
carries out Translunar Injection (TLI) burn –
sending Orion on a trajectory around
the moon
Inbound
After lunar flyby on Day 6, gravity draws
Orion back toward Earth
Just before re-entry, Orion’s crew module
separates from service module
Capsule re-enters atmosphere at speed of
32,187 km/h and temperatures of up to
2,200°C
Series of parachutes slow craft before
splashdown in Pacific Ocean
THE GLOBE AND MAIL, Sources: GRAPHIC NEWS;
NASA; ESA; Lockheed Martin
Artemis II flight path
Inbound
After lunar flyby on Day 6,
gravity draws Orion back
toward Earth
Just before re-entry, Orion’s
crew module separates from
service module
Capsule re-enters atmosph-
ere at speed of 32,187 km/h
and temperatures of up to
2,200°C
Series of parachutes slow
craft before splashdown in
Pacific Ocean
10
Outbound
Orion will travel more than
400,000 km from Earth and
could set a new record for
the farthest humans have
ever gone into space
Lift-off from
Cape Canaveral
Two minutes after launch,
boosters separate followed
by launch abort system
Eight minutes after launch,
ICPS and Orion separate from
Core stage. Orion’s solar arrays unfurl
After 90-minute orbit, ICPS fires engines
to raise Orion to higher Earth orbit.
Crew begins multiple system checks
Moon
If everything is in order, Orion separates
from ICPS.Then, astronauts manually fly
Orion toward and away from ICPS, practising
proximity operations for future missions
Around 23 hours later, Orion Service Module
carries out Translunar Injection (TLI) burn –
sending Orion on a trajectory around the moon
THE GLOBE AND MAIL, Sources: GRAPHIC NEWS; NASA; ESA; Lockheed Martin
NASA mission managers polled “go” to launch the Artemis II mission’s towering, 98-metre Space Launch System (SLS) rocket topped with the astronauts’ Orion crew capsule as early as 6:24 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
It will launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida just one pad away from where the last moon-bound astronauts of the U.S. Apollo program lifted off more than half a century ago.
The Artemis II crew includes NASA astronauts Christina Koch, Victor Glover and Reid Wiseman and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who landed in Florida from Houston on Friday.
They had been in a two-week quarantine leading up to liftoff and spent time with their families over the weekend at the Kennedy Space Center’s beach house, a spot where astronauts rest before blasting off into space.
The launch had originally been planned for as early as February 6, and then March 6, until a pesky hydrogen leak prompted NASA to roll the rocket back to its vehicle assembly building for scrutiny.
- Globe staff, Reuters