NASA will unveil its 2025 astronaut class in September and hold briefings that preview the Artemis II crewed lunar flyby mission. The agency now targets a launch no earlier than April 2026 for Artemis II, aligning mission preparations and hardware readiness with updated safety and testing milestones.
Key updates
- September: Reveal of NASA’s 2025 astronaut class, plus media briefings that outline Artemis II objectives, training progress, and program status.
- Artemis II schedule: Targeting no earlier than April 2026 for launch, reflecting continued work on Orion, SLS, and ground systems.
- Coverage: Events will be carried on NASA’s channels, with live streaming and post-event materials.
What to expect from the briefings
- Mission overview: How Artemis II will test Orion’s life-support, navigation, and deep-space operations on a lunar flyby ahead of future landing missions.
- Program status: Updates on spacecraft readiness, integrated testing, and risk reductions driving the revised timeline.
- Astronaut pipeline: Introduction of the 2025 class to support future Artemis, ISS, and commercial missions.
Artemis II crew
- Reid Wiseman — Commander
- Victor Glover — Pilot
- Christina Koch — Mission Specialist
- Jeremy Hansen (CSA) — Mission Specialist
How to watch
- Live coverage and replays are expected on NASA Television, NASA+, and the agency’s online platforms.
- Check NASA’s schedule and live page closer to the event for exact times and streaming links.
Why this matters
The September announcements connect near-term astronaut workforce planning with the next steps of the Artemis campaign. Artemis II will be the first crewed flight of the program, validating systems needed for future lunar surface missions and establishing momentum toward sustained exploration.
Source: NASA news release
