How to watch the NASA Artemis II launch featuring a NC astronaut
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Artemis II targets April 1 launch window with backups through April 6.
- NASA will stream the launch on social channels and the NASA app (Roku/AppleTV/Amazon).
- If clear, parts of Florida and southern Georgia may see it up after liftoff.
For the first time in 50 years, humans will travel beyond Earth’s orbit.
Artemis II is scheduled to launch Wednesday, April 1, with four astronauts, including Christina Koch, who grew up in North Carolina and graduated from NC State University.
“The Artemis campaign heralds a Golden Age of exploration and innovation for NASA and its partners,” the stated purpose of the Artemis mission says. “America is leading the way into the cosmos, preparing humanity to live and work on the Moon, and paving the way for a crewed mission to Mars.”
What time is the Artemis II launch?
The two-hour launch window starts at 6:24 p.m. Wednesday, April 1. If things go smoothly, the launch will happen right at the start of that two-hour window, but delays could push it back.
The next launch window is at 7:22 p.m. Thursday, April 2, with launch windows scheduled each day through Sunday, April 6.
Who are the astronauts on the Artemis II?
The 10-day mission will send four astronauts — NASA Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Jeremy Hansen — around the moon and back to Earth.
Koch was raised in Jacksonville and attended the NC School of Science and Mathematics. She broke the world record for longest spaceflight by a woman with 320 days in orbit in 2019 and 2020, and she participated in the first all-woman spacewalk in 2019, The News & Observer previously reported.
How can you watch the Artemis II launch online?
NASA will stream the crew launch on its YouTube, Facebook, Twitch and X accounts, and on its free streaming service on the NASA app.
How can you watch the Artemis II launch on TV?
The NASA app is available for download on several third-part streaming apps including Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Prime.
C-SPAN’s coverage begins at 1 p.m., CBS News will broadcast a special report at 6 p.m. and CNN’s special coverage will begin at 5 p.m.
Can you see the Artemis II launch in person?
If the weather is clear, folks in Florida and southern Georgia may have a chance to see the spacecraft in the sky up to 70 seconds after the launch. NASA shared a visibility range on X of how soon after launch people might be able to see the rocket.
Tickets to watch the Artemis II launch from the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida is sold out.
This story was originally published April 1, 2026 at 11:10 AM with the headline "How to watch the NASA Artemis II launch featuring a NC astronaut."
