
Artemis II astronauts, commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, take off from Launch Complex 39B for their mission to the Moon, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

Artemis II astronauts, commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, take off from Launch Complex 39B for their mission to the Moon, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

Artemis II astronauts, commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, take off from Launch Complex 39B for their mission to the Moon, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

The crew access arm is retracted before the launch of Artemis II from Launch Complex 39B for their mission to the Moon, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

Artemis II astronauts, commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, take off from Launch Complex 39B for their mission to the Moon, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

Artemis II astronauts, commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, take off from Launch Complex 39B for their mission to the Moon, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

Artemis II astronauts, commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, take off from Launch Complex 39B for their mission to the Moon, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

Birds fly past Artemis II before take off from Launch Complex 39B, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

Artemis II astronauts, commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, take off from Launch Complex 39B for their mission to the Moon, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

The solid rocket boosters separate during the launch of Artemis II after take off from Launch Complex 39B for their mission to the Moon, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

Artemis II astronauts, commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, take off from Launch Complex 39B for their mission to the Moon, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

Artemis II astronauts, commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, take off from Launch Complex 39B for their mission to the Moon, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

Artemis II astronauts, commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, take off from Launch Complex 39B for their mission to the Moon, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

The Space Launch System rocket topped with the Orion capsule carrying the four astronauts of the Artemis II mission launches from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-B on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Roger Simmons/Orlando Sentinel)

The Space Launch System rocket topped with the Orion capsule carrying the four astronauts of the Artemis II mission sits on the pad at Kennedy Space Center just before launch on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Roger Simmons/Orlando Sentinel)

The Space Launch System rocket topped with the Orion capsule carrying the four astronauts of the Artemis II mission launches from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-B on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Roger Simmons/Orlando Sentinel)

The Space Launch System rocket topped with the Orion capsule carrying the four astronauts of the Artemis II mission launches from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-B on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Roger Simmons/Orlando Sentinel)

The Space Launch System rocket topped with the Orion capsule carrying the four astronauts of the Artemis II mission launches from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-B on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Roger Simmons/Orlando Sentinel)

The Space Launch System rocket topped with the Orion capsule carrying the four astronauts of the Artemis II mission launches from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-B on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Roger Simmons/Orlando Sentinel)

The Space Launch System rocket topped with the Orion capsule carrying the four astronauts of the Artemis II mission launches from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-B on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Roger Simmons/Orlando Sentinel)

The Space Launch System rocket topped with the Orion capsule carrying the four astronauts of the Artemis II mission sits on the pad at Kennedy Space Center just before launch on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Roger Simmons/Orlando Sentinel)

The Space Launch System rocket topped with the Orion capsule carrying the four astronauts of the Artemis II mission launches from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-B on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Roger Simmons/Orlando Sentinel)

The Space Launch System rocket topped with the Orion capsule carrying the four astronauts of the Artemis II mission launches from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-B on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)

The Space Launch System rocket topped with the Orion capsule carrying the four astronauts of the Artemis II mission launches from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-B on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)

The Space Launch System rocket topped with the Orion capsule carrying the four astronauts of the Artemis II mission launches from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-B on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)

The Space Launch System rocket topped with the Orion capsule carrying the four astronauts of the Artemis II mission launches from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-B on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)

The Space Launch System rocket topped with the Orion capsule carrying the four astronauts of the Artemis II mission launches from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-B on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)
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Artemis II astronauts, commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, take off from Launch Complex 39B for their mission to the Moon, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)