Live coverage continues for NASA’s Artemis II mission, with a launch currently targeted for 6:24 p.m. on April 1, 2026. This historic flight will send four astronauts on a 10-day journey to fly by the Moon, marking humanity’s return to deep space after a 50+ year absence.

Propellant Loading Progress

NASA teams successfully completed filling the core stage with both liquid hydrogen (LH2) and liquid oxygen (LOX) by 11:45 a.m. today. LH2 loading is also complete on the upper stage. Work is ongoing to load LOX into the upper stage, known as the interim cryogenic propulsion stage (ICPS).

Fuel Quantities

  • Core Stage: 733,000 gallons total (537,000 gallons LH2, 196,000 gallons LOX)
  • ICPS: 22,000 gallons total (approximately 17,000 gallons LH2, 5,000 gallons LOX)

Both LH2 and LOX in the core stage are now in replenish mode, meaning gas will be added as needed to maintain pressure through launch. The extremely cold propellants are maintained at -423 degrees Fahrenheit for LH2 and -297 degrees Fahrenheit for LOX.

Launch Visibility

NASA has released a visibility map to help skywatchers determine if they can see the SLS rocket launch from their location. Residents of Florida and southern Georgia have the best chance of witnessing the event.

Addressing Past Challenges

Liquid hydrogen has historically been a challenging propellant to manage during Artemis missions. However, NASA reports no leaks have been detected during today’s fueling operations. Both the core stage and upper stage have now reached 100% fill.

Crew Preparations & Weather Outlook

The Artemis II crew – Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen – received their wakeup call at 9:25 a.m. They will soon head to the Operations & Checkout building to prepare for their trip to the launch pad before 2 p.m.

The Space Launch Delta 45 weather squadron’s L-1 forecast indicates an 80% chance of favorable launch conditions. The primary weather concern remains intermittent showers and breezy onshore winds.

Astronaut Insights

NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick, currently aboard the International Space Station, noted the strong representation of Navy aviators within the astronaut corps, referencing historical data from the Apollo program.

Fast fill operations are continuing for both LH2 and LOX on the core stage, while slow fill of LOX into the ICPS is underway. The countdown continues as NASA aims to launch the Artemis II mission on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.