Crew and Mission Profile Confirmed NASA will send commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen on a roughly 10‑day Orion flight that will loop the Moon without landing, testing life‑support, propulsion, navigation and deep‑space operations [1][3][4][5]. The mission is framed as a pivotal step toward sustained lunar presence and the later Artemis III landing [1][3]. Astronauts observed the SLS rollout on site, underscoring crew readiness for the deep‑space test [4][5].

Launch Timeline Centers on Early‑February Window NASA plans a fueling test on the pad in early February, after which the earliest launch could occur on 6 February if all systems are green [3][5]. A later launch window extends to “no later than April 2026,” reflecting the same February fueling prerequisite but without a firm date [1][2]. The overlap of an early‑February target and an April deadline highlights a narrow scheduling corridor that could shift if pad rehearsals reveal issues [2][3].

SLS Rollout and Pad Preparations Advance Toward Liftoff The 98‑meter Space Launch System and Orion capsule completed a 12‑hour, 0.82 mph crawl from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B, covering four miles on 18 January 2026 [4][5]. A wet‑dress rehearsal will follow to validate fuel loading and countdown procedures before final launch clearance [4][5]. The European Service Module will power Orion’s propulsion and life‑support during the mission, integrating international hardware into the flight [4].

Public Virtual Boarding Pass Program Engages Hundreds of Thousands NASA opened an online sign‑up allowing anyone to place their name on an SD card aboard Artemis II, requiring a first and last name plus a 4‑ to 7‑digit PIN [1][2]. More than 900,000 names are expected to ride as virtual guests, receiving mission updates throughout the flight [2]. The initiative is presented as a way to inspire global participation and highlight the mission’s significance [1][2].