Launch Window and Crew Confirmation NASA has opened a launch window beginning Feb 8, 2026 for Artemis II, the first crewed lunar‑related launch in over five decades, with a flexible lift‑off date pending final safety checks [2][3]. The four‑person crew consists of Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen [2][3]. The mission is planned as a ten‑day deep‑space flight that will loop around the Moon without landing [2][3]. This crew composition marks the first international partnership on a U.S. lunar flyby since the Apollo era [3].

Mission Objectives and System Tests Artemis II will spend roughly two days near Earth checking Orion’s life‑support, air‑regeneration, and carbon‑dioxide removal systems before heading toward the Moon [2][3]. A targeting demonstration will be performed, and the spacecraft’s navigation and propulsion will be evaluated during the lunar flyby [2][3]. Acting associate administrator Lori Glaze describes the flight as a “key test” that validates hardware for future surface landings and paves the way toward a sustainable lunar presence and eventual crewed missions to Mars [2][3].

Potential Weather Delay and Countdown Preparations polar vortex is bringing unusually cold temperatures to Florida, raising concerns that cryogenic propellant loading (“tanking day”) and simulated countdowns could be postponed, as similar cold snaps delayed Shuttle launches in the past [1]. NASA officials will monitor the weather closely before proceeding with the final launch sequence [1]. The cold risk adds uncertainty to the already flexible launch window that began on Feb 8 [1].

New Majority‑Female Astronaut Class Highlight Dr Lauren Edgar, a Sammamish, Washington native with a Caltech PhD in planetary geology, was selected in 2025 for NASA’s first astronaut class where women form the majority [1]. She is undergoing a two‑year training program in Houston that includes flight training, ISS robotic‑arm operations, and geology drills to prepare for future Artemis missions [1]. Edgar emphasizes the complexity of the International Space Station’s interdependent systems as a key learning focus [1].

February Planetary Parade for Public Viewing Starting Feb 17, a planetary alignment will showcase Venus at sunset, followed by Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Mercury throughout the month [1]. Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn are visible to the naked eye, while Uranus and Neptune require binoculars or a telescope, with viewing improving as the planets climb higher later in February [1]. NASA solar‑system ambassador Keith Krumm encourages sky‑watchers to observe the “planetary parade” as a public outreach complement to the Artemis program [1].