Dec 1972 – Apollo 17 completes the last crewed Moon landing, marking the end of the Apollo era and framing Artemis II as the first human return to lunar vicinity in over five decades [3].

Sep 2025 – NASA targets a February 5 launch for Artemis II, names the four‑person crew (Wiseman, Glover, Koch, Hansen), and plans a proximity‑operations docking rehearsal; Open University expert Dr Simeon Barber warns that “no earlier than mid‑2027 is optimistic” for a Moon landing, stressing dependence on Starship HLS [4].

Dec 31 2025 – Artemis II stays on track for a possible Feb 6 launch, incorporates a ten‑day lunar flyby, and resolves Artemis I heat‑shield wear; lawmakers cite the mission as a strategic counter to China’s lunar ambitions [8].

Jan 17 2026 – NASA rolls the 322‑ft Space Launch System and Orion capsule from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Complex 39B, with the crew watching; the rollout supports an early‑February launch window and recalls past delays from heat‑shield and capsule issues [9].

Jan 18 2026 – The SLS arrives at Pad 39B after a 12‑hour, 4‑mile crawl; launch windows open Feb 6 onward, and Airbus’s Sian Cleaver says “we basically can’t get to the Moon without” the European Service Module, while mission‑management chair John Honeycutt stresses safety as the top priority [2].

Jan 18 2026 – NASA opens Artemis II virtual boarding passes, loading more than 1.5 million public names onto an SD card aboard Orion; Acting Associate Administrator Lori Glaze calls the flight “a key test flight for returning humans to the Moon” and notes a fueling test must occur before a launch date is set [12].

Jan 30 2026 – NASA sets the first launch window to begin Feb 8, confirming the four‑astronaut crew and a free‑return lunar flyby; the ten‑day mission will test Orion’s life‑support, navigation and targeting, and Glaze frames it as a stepping stone toward Mars [11][15].

Feb 3 2026 – CNN launches its “Countdown” newsletter, announcing Artemis II could lift off as early as March 6, 2026, and highlighting the mission as humanity’s first deep‑space flight in five decades [6].

Feb 3 2026 – NASA pushes the launch window to March after a wet‑dress rehearsal reveals hydrogen‑leak problems; the crew’s quarantine is reset, and officials consider rolling the SLS back for battery work while a second rehearsal proceeds [5].

Feb 3 2026 – A planetary parade begins Feb 17, with Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Mercury visible; NASA warns a polar vortex could delay the Feb 8 launch, and introduces Dr Lauren Edgar as a member of the first majority‑female astronaut class [14].

Feb 20 2026 – NASA sets the earliest launch date to March 6 after a successful second wet‑dress rehearsal that fixes earlier hydrogen leaks; Lori Glaze says “every night I look up at the Moon… we’re ready,” and Administrator Jared Isaacman declares “major progress,” while launch director Charlie Blackwell‑Thompson calls the test “a big step in earning our right to fly” [1][10][13].

2028 (planned) – Artemis III aims for a lunar south‑pole landing using a SpaceX‑built Starship lander, with the success of Artemis II clearing the path and prompting competition from Blue Origin as NASA pursues a sustained lunar presence [1].