NASA Artemis II April Launch

United States — NASA has cleared its Space Launch System moon rocket for an April launch with four astronauts, marking humanity's first trip to the moon in over 50 years. The Artemis II mission, a lunar fly-around, was delayed from earlier this year due to hydrogen fuel leaks and a helium-flow issue, necessitating repairs in the Vehicle Assembly Building. United States — NASA's new administrator, Jared Isaacman, announced an overhaul of the Artemis program, adding an extra practice flight (Artemis III) and shifting the moon landing to Artemis IV, targeting one or two lunar landings in 2028. The United States — Office of Inspector General (United States) warned United States — NASA about the need for a rescue plan for lunar crews due to the risks of landing near the moon's south pole. SpaceX and Blue Origin, contracted to provide moon landers, have accelerated their work to meet the new 2028 target date. The Artemis II crew, including three American astronauts and one Canadian astronaut, has entered quarantine in preparation for the mission.