5 things you need to know for tonight’s Artemis II launch

NASA Artemis Moonshot The NASA Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket with the Orion spacecraft is seen at Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (John Raoux/AP)

By Jay Edwards

It’s “GO” time for the Artemis II launch from our Space Coast later today! The four astronauts are ready to launch to the moon’s orbit from Kennedy Space Center’s launch pad 39B.

Here are five things you might want to know leading up to the launch:

- The launch window opens up at 6:24 pm tonight (April 1st) and will remain open for 2-hours.

- The Artemis II launch will send four astronauts traveling approximately 685,000 miles on a 10-day mission into deep space, around the moon, and then back to Earth.

- The four astronauts are Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and the two Mission Specialists Christina Koch & Jeremy Hansen. Three of the four are Americans and Jeremy Hansen is from the Canadian Space Agency.

- Most of us on Florida’s East Coast will be able to see the launch and experts are saying it could be visible as far South as Miami and as far North as Savannah, GA.

- If you’re planning on heading over for the launch, know ahead of time where you plan on parking. Many of the lots near KSC are already sold out. If you’re looking for a good spot to watch the launch, out TV partner WFTV has some good info here or by using the Volusia Beaches app here.