After half a century, humanity heads to the moon again

NASA's Artemis 2 mission is scheduled to launch on April 1 at 6:24 PM Eastern Time (April 2 at 7:24 AM Korean Time). This mission, which will be launched aboard a powerful Space Launch System (SLS) rocket from Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, is expected to be a historic moment in which humans fly into lunar orbit for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972.

Four astronauts will board this mission, and they will orbit the moon for about 10 days in the Orion capsule and return to Earth. NASA is securing launch opportunities every day from April 1 to 6, with an additional launch window opening on April 30.

Key test flights of the Artemis program

Artemis 2 represents an important test flight phase in NASA's Artemis program. This program has the goal of sending humans back to the moon and establishing a foundation for long-term stay, which will serve as a stepping stone for future exploration of Mars.

In this mission, astronauts will orbit behind the moon along a 'free return orbit.' This flight path uses the moon's gravity to naturally return to Earth, and is focused on verifying life support systems, navigation, communication systems, and deep space operation capabilities in real-life situations.

Launch schedule and live broadcast information

On April 1, the day of launch, NASA will hold two major live broadcasts. The SLS rocket fuel injection process will be broadcast starting at 7:45 a.m. Eastern time, and a live countdown covering the entire process leading up to launch will begin at 12:50 p.m. A post-launch press conference is also scheduled approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes after launch.

NASA plans to provide simultaneous broadcasting on its own website, NASA+ streaming service, YouTube, as well as major streaming platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime. During key preparation stages before launch, 24-hour live video of the launch pad is also provided.

The launch time may vary depending on the date, and if weather conditions allow, the launch on April 1 is expected to take place approximately 88 minutes after sunset and create a spectacular sight.