![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/nasa-artemis-ii-vehicle-assembly-building.jpg\")
Credit: NASA<\/p>\nThe Artemis II crew have entered quarantine, ahead of the launch of their mission to the Moon and back.<\/p>\n
NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, went into quarantine on Friday 23 January.<\/p>\n
The measure is a standard procedure to ensure the crew don’t pick up any illnesses that could delay their mission.<\/p>\n
Credit: NASA<\/p>\n
NASA’s proposed launch dates for Artemis II<\/a> state that the mission could lift off as early as 6 February 2026.<\/p>\n With the astronauts now in quarantine, this is one more big step towards the launch of the first crewed mission to the Moon since the Apollo programme.<\/p>\n Rollout of the Artemis II Space Launch System<\/a> was completed on 17 January 2026, meaning the rocket and Orion capsule \u2013 where the astronauts will be \u2013 is now on the launch pad, almost ready to go.<\/p>\n The period of quarantine the Artemis astronauts are now going through is known as the ‘health stabilisation program’, and NASA says it begins about 14 days before launch.<\/p>\n That doesn’t mean Artemis II is confirmed to launch in 14 days, but it is a sign that all is going well with launch preparations, and that the mission could potentially get an early-February launch date.<\/p>\n One other vital step before launch is the ‘wet dress rehearsal’, where ground teams will run through all the key stages to launch, without the astronauts onboard.<\/p>\n At the time of writing, NASA hasn’t set an official launch date, but testing of the spacecraft and rocket are ongoing.<\/p>\n NASA says that, pending the outcome of the wet dress rehearsal, the crew may come out of quarantine, then re-enter quarantine 14 days before any launch date.<\/p>\n While in quarantine, the Artemis II crew<\/a> will live in the astronaut quarters at the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building, and will remain there until launch day.<\/p>\n They can have regular contact with friends and colleagues, NASA says, provided any visitors have observed quarantine guidelines like avoiding public spaces, wearing masks and maintaining distance from the astronauts.<\/p>\n Artemis II will see the four astronauts lift off from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA, and go into orbit around Earth.<\/p>\n Once they’re given the go-ahead, an engine burn will take them out of Earth orbit and onwards to the Moon.<\/p>\n They’ll journey beyond the Moon, further than any human has travelled before, then use the Moon’s gravity to ‘slingshot’ the spacecraft back towards Earth.<\/p>\n During the mission they’ll be able to see the far side of the Moon<\/a>, which is something only a select few astronauts have ever seen with their own eyes.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/artemis-ii-crew-1.jpg\")
The Artemis II crew Jeremy Hansen, Christina Koch, Victor Glover and Reid Wiseman during training at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, 31 July 2025. Credit: NASA
\nKeeping fit and healthy for a journey to the Moon<\/p>\n![\"Artemis](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1769444714_916_nasa-artemis-ii-crew.jpg\")
Artemis II astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen. Credit: NASA\/James Blair<\/p>\n![\"NASA](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/artemis-ii-kennedy-space-center-from-space.jpg\")
NASA astronaut Chris Williams captured this image of the Artemis II rocket on its launchpad from the International Space Station, during the weekend of its rollout, 17\/18 January 2026. Credit: NASA
\nThe Artemis II journey<\/p>\n![\"View](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/far-side-moon-nasa-galileo-social.jpg\")
View of the far side of the Moon captured by NASA’s Galileo probe. Credit: NASA\/JPL<\/p>\n