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NASA counts down for first crewed lunar mission in half a century
The 10-hour fueling process loads more than 700,000 gallons of propellant as NASA prepares four astronauts for a lunar flyby.
- On Wednesday, April 1, 2026, NASA scheduled the Artemis II launch for 6:24 p.m. ET from Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39B, carrying four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the moon.
- This mission marks the first time humans have visited the lunar environment in more than 50 years, following the 1972 Apollo 17 flight, establishing NASA's pathway to a permanent moon base.
- Launch teams began fueling the 322-foot Space Launch System rocket, requiring more than 700,000 gallons of propellant, while Space Force officials forecast an 80% chance of favorable weather conditions for liftoff.
- Commander Reid Wiseman leads the crew, joined by pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who will trace a figure-eight path around the moon.
- The mission sets a new distance record for humans traveling beyond Earth, testing critical spacecraft systems and life-support capabilities to prepare NASA for future lunar landings and deeper space exploration.
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Countdown to first crewed lunar mission in half a century
NASA is set to launch four astronauts today on a 10-day flight around the moon, marking the most ambitious US space mission in decades and a major step toward returning humans to the lunar surface before China's first crewed landing.
·Otago, New Zealand
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To the moon! For the first time in over 50 years, humans will travel to the mythical celestial body. The launch is scheduled for Thursday night – and will take place with a historic crew.
·Stockholm, Sweden
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The Nasa spaceship "Orion" starts for the first time with crew to the moon. Whoever was in the 60's child will remember a very specific German TV series.
·Germany
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources203
Leaning Left43Leaning Right27Center82Last UpdatedBias Distribution54% Center
Bias Distribution
- 54% of the sources are Center
54% Center
L 28%
C 54%
R 18%
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