The United States is making another attempt to send astronauts to lunar orbit after a gap of more than half a century. The success of this milestone mission is critical not only for advancing NASA's deep space exploration roadmap but also for the commercial space industry chain centered around lunar economic development.
According to reports, NASA stated on March 31 that final preparations before launch are proceeding smoothly. The launch of the Artemis II mission is scheduled for no earlier than 6:24 PM Eastern Time on April 1 (6:24 AM Beijing Time on April 2). The mission will utilize the new-generation Space Launch System (SLS) rocket to carry the Orion spacecraft from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Four astronauts will be sent on a 10-day journey into lunar orbit.
Weather forecasts indicate an 80% probability of favorable conditions for launch during the designated window. NASA Launch Weather Officer Mark Burger stated at a press conference on the 31st that weather conditions along the rocket's ascent corridor are "highly favorable," with a risk probability of only 9%, describing the situation as "very ideal."
**Return to Deep Space After 53 Years Holds Profound Significance**
Artemis II represents the first U.S. attempt since 1972 to send astronauts beyond low-Earth orbit into deep space, more than 53 years after the last crewed lunar landing mission. This mission also marks the inaugural crewed flight of the Orion spacecraft.
The four astronauts selected for the mission are: NASA astronaut and Mission Commander Reid Wiseman, along with NASA astronauts Victor Glover and Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The crew will travel aboard the Orion capsule, named "Integrity," flying near the Moon's orbit and are expected to directly observe parts of the far side of the Moon never before seen by human eyes.
NASA Deputy Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya emphasized before the launch, "The vehicle is ready, the systems are ready, the crew is ready. Behind this flight is an entire program—lunar landings, a lunar base, deep space nuclear propulsion. This all begins on Wednesday, it does not end."
**Launch Sequence and Subsequent Key Milestones**
The launch countdown, lasting over 49 hours, officially began at 4:44 PM Eastern Time on March 30. The launch window is two hours long. The SLS rocket stands 322 feet (approximately 98 meters) tall.
Approximately 20 minutes after launch, the four solar arrays on the European Service Module are scheduled to deploy to power the spacecraft. About 49 minutes after liftoff, the upper stage will perform a perigee raise maneuver to place Orion into an elliptical orbit. Roughly an hour later, an apogee raise maneuver will be conducted to enter a high Earth orbit.
A critical decision point will occur on the second day of the flight. NASA will then assess the status of the spacecraft and crew to decide whether to execute the Trans-Lunar Injection (TLI) burn, formally setting course for the Moon. During the mission, astronauts will also conduct manual piloting demonstrations to verify the Orion spacecraft's maneuvering capabilities required for future docking with lunar landers being developed by companies like Blue Origin and SpaceX.
The data on the deep space radiation environment and operational experience gathered from this mission will provide crucial support for NASA's subsequent plans for crewed lunar landings and the construction of a lunar base.