NASA sets April 1 as new target launch date for manned lunar mission

NASA’s Artemis II mission could blast off as early as April 1, officials from the space agency announced on Thursday. The planned 10-day mission is expected to carry four astronauts around the moon, before returning to earth. The spacecraft will not land on the lunar surface, though a lunar landing is planned for a later mission.

Who are the crew members of Artemis II? The crew consists of Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen. Artemis II will be NASA’s first crewed flight test of the space agency’s new Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft. It’s meant to conduct tests to ensure the feasibility and safety of long-term exploration and science on the lunar surface.

Wasn’t it supposed to launch earlier this year? The space agency originally planned to launch the mission in February, but it was ultimately grounded until at least April, due to dangerous hydrogen fuel leaks and a helium system malfunction.

Dig deeper: Read Liz Lykins’ story on Elon Musk’s updated space exploration plans.