13 Minutes Presents: Artemis II Update: Aiming for April
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Mar 17, 2026 A launch update as NASA fixes a helium leak and targets a new April liftoff. A veteran astronaut describes the nerves and rituals of waiting for launch. The mission will loop four crew around the far side of the Moon, traveling over 400,000 km. Daily live coverage plans promise real-time updates, technical backstories and interviews with the teams making it happen.
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Artemis II Targeted For April 1st Launch
- Artemis II is on track for an earliest launch of 1 April after NASA repaired a helium leak on the rocket.
- Tim Peake explains the crew are finalising preparations while waiting for the Moon to be in the right orbital position for launch.
Astronaut Emotions While Waiting For Launch
- Tim Peake recalls the emotional mix astronauts feel while waiting: excitement, anticipation and apprehension before a deep space mission.
- He highlights the scale of the journey—over 400,000 kilometres away, looping around the far side of the Moon on Artemis II.
Follow Daily Coverage For Real Time Mission Context
- Follow the 13 Minutes Presents: Artemis II series daily for nearly two weeks to get real-time updates, backstories and technical context about the mission.
- Tim Peake, Maggie Aderin-Pocock and Kristin Fisher will interview mission personnel and explain the science and engineering behind each stage.