NASA has exciting news! On Thursday, the space agency announced its plans to launch four astronauts on a long-anticipated mission around the moon, aiming for a launch date as early as April 1.

Lori Glaze, the acting deputy administrator for NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, stated that the team is on schedule to return the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft to the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 19.

“Everything is progressing well,” Glaze declared during a news conference.

The mission, named Artemis II, marks a significant milestone, as it will be the first time NASA’s SLS rocket and Orion capsule will carry astronauts. It’s the first crewed lunar journey in over 50 years.

This 10-day mission will have a crew of NASA astronauts Reed Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who will orbit the moon farther from Earth than any humans have ever ventured.

The launch is targeted for April 1 at 6:24 p.m. ET; however, this date hinges on the completion of the rocket’s checkout in its hangar and further work on the launch pad.

NASA made the decision to proceed with the launch attempt shortly after mission managers and top officials gathered for a two-day flight readiness review, where they formally certify rockets and spacecraft for flight.

Glaze noted that Wiseman, Koch, Glover, and Hansen took part in the flight readiness review virtually, sharing their vital insights.

“Their participation reaffirmed the importance of having transparent discussions about our future steps and the risks involved,” she explained.

The astronauts are currently training at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and will enter quarantine on-site starting Wednesday to minimize germ exposure before launch. If everything goes smoothly, they will travel to Kennedy Space Center on March 27, as noted by Sean Quinn, NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program Manager.

The impressive 322-foot-tall Space Launch System rocket has been undergoing repairs since its relocation from the launch pad on February 25.

This action followed a crucial refueling test on February 19, known as a “wet dress rehearsal,” where NASA simulated nearly every step of a launch countdown. Despite a successful rehearsal, engineers later identified a blockage in the helium flow to a section of the rocket’s upper stage, prompting the cancellation of the launch to make necessary repairs and missing out on a March launch window.

Quinn mentioned that engineers have recently replaced a faulty seal that was obstructing the helium flow. The team is also adding new batteries and conducting tests on the systems of the rocket and Orion spacecraft.

The February 19 wet dress rehearsal was NASA’s second attempt to fill a Space Launch System rocket with over 700,000 gallons of cryogenic propellant. The earlier attempt that month was cut short due to a hydrogen fuel leak discovered at the rear of the rocket, eliminating the opportunity for a February launch.

NASA is exploring a launch opportunity that includes April 2, which wasn’t initially considered, but was added after further analysis. If needed, there is also an opportunity on April 30.

The agency has opted not to speculate on any potential launch dates beyond April due to possible delays.

Thus far, the SLS rocket and Orion capsule’s only spaceflight was the unmanned lunar orbit during the 2022 Artemis I mission, which faced a six-month delay due to a hydrogen leak.

Recently, NASA announced significant revisions to its Artemis moon program. Following Artemis II, the agency has rescheduled the Artemis III mission to land astronauts on the moon to mid-2027 and will instead operate in low-Earth orbit to test technologies. These tests will involve rendezvous and docking with SpaceX’s and Blue Origin’s commercially developed lunar landers.

After that, Artemis IV is slated for a 2028 launch to safely land astronauts on the moon.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stated these changes aim to enhance safety and minimize delays in fulfilling President Donald Trump’s objective of returning astronauts to the lunar surface and establishing a sustainable human presence there.