# Orion Type: Technology Source: Space & Defense Intelligence Brief — https://getspacebrief.com/entity/orion-technology Canonical HTML page: https://getspacebrief.com/entity/orion-technology ## Timeline - **2027**: Artemis III Landing — Planned return of humans to the lunar surface. - **2027**: Artemis III Target — Planned mission to land the first woman and person of color on the lunar surface. - **2027 (estimated)**: Artemis III — Planned mission to land the first woman and person of color on the lunar surface. - **2026**: Targeted Artemis II Launch — First crewed mission of the Artemis program (Projected). - **2026**: Target Launch — Projected window for the Artemis 2 crewed lunar flyby mission. - **2026-04**: New Launch Target — NASA aims for a revised launch window for the crewed lunar flyby. - **2026-04**: Scheduled Launch — Artemis II set to launch from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B. - **2026-04**: Artemis II Launch — First crewed flight of the Artemis program targeting lunar flyby. - **2026-Q2**: Wet Dress Rehearsal — Full propellant loading and countdown practice at the pad. - **2026-04-01**: Launch Window Opens — The earliest possible date for the Artemis mission launch. - **2026-04**: Artemis II Launch — First crewed flight of the SLS and Orion on a lunar flyby mission. - **2026-03-25**: Final Pad Checkouts — Engineers begin integrated testing of the rocket and ground systems. - **2026-03-20**: Artemis 2 Rollout — Rocket moves to Launch Pad 39B for final pre-flight testing. - **2026-03-20**: Rollout to Pad 39B — The SLS rocket leaves the VAB for the launch pad. - **2026-03-12**: Flight Clearance — NASA officially clears the rocket and spacecraft for crewed flight. ## Recent coverage (10 stories) ### NASA Prepares for Artemis II: The First Crewed Lunar Mission in Over 50 Years 2026-03-24 22:48:18 · Sentiment: Neutral · Impact: 8/10 · Sources: 6 NASA is entering the final countdown for Artemis II, a historic mission scheduled for April 2026 that will send four astronauts on a lunar flyby. This mission serves as the critical bridge between the uncrewed Artemis I test and the eventual return of humans to the lunar surface. Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/artemis-ii-lunar-mission-april-launch ### NASA Returns Repaired Artemis Rocket to Pad for Early April Launch 2026-03-20 13:14:47 · Sentiment: Positive · Impact: 7/10 · Sources: 2 NASA has successfully transported its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket back to Launch Pad 39B following critical repairs in the Vehicle Assembly Building. The move sets the stage for a high-stakes lunar mission window opening in early April, marking a pivotal moment for the Artemis program. Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/nasa-artemis-sls-rollout-april-launch ### NASA Schedules Artemis 2 Rollout for March 20 as Crewed Lunar Flight Nears 2026-03-17 18:34:36 · Sentiment: Neutral · Impact: 6/10 · Sources: 2 NASA has confirmed the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft for the Artemis 2 mission will return to Launch Pad 39B on March 20. This move marks a critical transition from assembly to final pre-launch operations for the first crewed lunar mission in over half a century. Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/nasa-artemis-2-rollout-march-20 ### NASA Targets April 1 Launch for Artemis II: First Crewed Lunar Mission in 50 Years 2026-03-13 16:32:07 · Sentiment: Positive · Impact: 8/10 · Sources: 2 NASA has officially confirmed an April 1, 2026, launch target for Artemis II, the first crewed mission to the lunar vicinity since the Apollo era. This 10-day mission will carry four astronauts on a high-stakes flyby to test life-support systems and deep-space navigation capabilities. Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/nasa-artemis-ii-april-launch-lunar-mission ### NASA Clears Artemis II Moon Rocket for April Launch Following Critical Repairs 2026-03-13 00:31:25 · Sentiment: Positive · Impact: 8/10 · Sources: 5 NASA has officially cleared the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II mission, scheduled for April 2026. This decision follows a rigorous period of repairs and testing to address technical anomalies discovered during the mission's preparation phase. Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/nasa-artemis-ii-april-launch-clearance ### NASA Delays Artemis II to April Following Helium System Malfunction 2026-02-25 21:16:09 · Sentiment: Negative · Impact: 7/10 · Sources: 2 NASA has officially postponed the Artemis II crewed lunar mission to April 2026 after a malfunction was detected in the rocket's helium system. The Space Launch System (SLS) stack must be rolled back to the Vehicle Assembly Building for repairs, marking a significant setback for the lunar program's timeline. Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/nasa-artemis-ii-postponed-april-2026 ### NASA Delays Artemis II Mission Again Citing Critical SLS Rocket Repairs 2026-02-25 17:42:43 · Sentiment: Negative · Impact: 7/10 · Sources: 3 NASA has officially postponed the Artemis II crewed lunar flyby mission, the first human-crewed flight of the Space Launch System (SLS), due to newly identified repair requirements on the rocket. This latest setback pushes the mission's timeline further into the late 2020s, complicating the broader goal of returning humans to the lunar surface. Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/artemis-ii-moon-mission-delayed-sls-repairs ### NASA Artemis Moon Mission Delayed: Launch Pushed Back One Month 2026-02-24 23:09:27 · Sentiment: Negative · Impact: 6/10 · Sources: 2 NASA has officially delayed its upcoming lunar mission by approximately 30 days, marking the latest in a series of setbacks for the Artemis program. The delay underscores the persistent technical and logistical challenges of returning humans to the lunar surface. Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/nasa-artemis-moon-mission-delay-february-2026 ### NASA Sets March 6 Launch for Artemis II Crewed Lunar Flyby 2026-02-21 07:12:15 · Sentiment: Strongly positive · Impact: 9/10 · Sources: 3 NASA has officially targeted March 6 for the launch of Artemis II, the first crewed mission of the Artemis program. The mission will carry four astronauts on a high-speed lunar flyby, marking the first human voyage to the vicinity of the Moon in over half a century. Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/nasa-artemis-ii-march-launch-date ### NASA’s Critical Fueling Test Sets the Stage for Artemis Lunar Return 2026-02-19 21:37:56 · Sentiment: Neutral · Impact: 7/10 · Sources: 2 NASA has initiated its second major rocket fueling test for the Artemis program, a pivotal milestone that will dictate the launch window for the next crewed lunar mission. This technical validation is essential for ensuring the integrity of the Space Launch System (SLS) and the safety of the astronauts slated for the historic journey. Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/nasa-artemis-fueling-test-lunar-mission --- This page is a machine-readable summary. Sentiment measures the directional read of each development for this entity, not the tone of the reporting; impact weights consequence, not syndication reach. 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