NASA Artemis II mission date revealed as astronauts enter quarantine

NASA's Artemis II crew began a two-week quarantine as final health and training checks continue, and NASA lists the launch as no earlier than Feb 6, 2026.

NASA's Artemis II crew has entered a two-week quarantine as final preparations proceed. The measure is intended to reduce the risk of illness in the days before launch. The four-person team is isolating in Houston and will travel to Kennedy Space Center about six days before liftoff to stay in special crew quarters. The mission is the first crewed flight of the Artemis programme and is scheduled no earlier than Feb 6, 2026. Key facts: - The crew members are Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. - The quarantine period is about two weeks and includes limits on public activity, mask use, and distancing; family and colleagues may visit under strict rules. - The astronauts will relocate to Kennedy Space Center around six days before launch and remain in designated crew quarters until liftoff. - Engineers are preparing the Space Launch System rocket and the Orion spacecraft while the crew completes mission simulations and medical checks. - NASA says Artemis II will last roughly ten days and will carry the crew on a crewed journey around the Moon. Summary: The quarantine is a final health-stabilisation step as teams complete technical and medical preparations for Artemis II. The mission is set to send four astronauts around the Moon on a roughly ten-day flight, with the launch listed as no earlier than Feb 6, 2026, and the crew moving to Kennedy Space Center about six days before liftoff.