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The much anticipated (and delayed) Artemis II mission is on track to blast off in early April, Nasa have said.

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The much anticipated (and delayed) Artemis II mission is on track to blast off in early April, Nasa have said.
This is a month later than planned, as the discovery of a helium leak (a gas not used as a fuel but needed to function) meant the rocket had to be taken back in for repairs.

Nasa have now said they're confident the problem is fixed, and is hoping to get the rocket back on its launch pad by 19 March, with the earliest it can set off being 1 April.

Lori Glaze, a senior Nasa official, said: "It's a test flight, and it is not without risk, but our team and our hardware are ready... Just keep in mind we still have work [to do]."

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Artemis II: Nasa say mission 'on track' for April

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Artemis II, the mission that will see a crew travel round the Moon and return home, is hopefully going to launch in April after some delays

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NASA detects Helium leak. March launch window lost.

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Workers detected a problem with the flow of helium, which is needed for the massive Artemis II rocket to launch.

The problems were detected overnight on Friday.

Helium is used to cool rocket systems and to pressurise fuel tanks, so disruption to the gas is treated as a serious technical issue.

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The mission sending astronauts to the moon for the first time in 50 years has been delayed.

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4th Feb - Lauch delay due to Hydrogen Leak

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4th Feb - Lauch delay due to Hydrogen Leak

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NASA detects hydrogen leak during Artemis II moon rocket fueling test

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Artemis II: Nasa gets rocket ready for launch

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If all goes to plan, the gigantic rocket being used in Nasa’s Moon mission will start its 12 hour journey to the launchpad this week

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Artemis II: Explore space in our Interactive Experience

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Nasa is making final preparations for its 10-day crewed test flight around the Moon, and you can blast off on Newsround’s Artemis II interactive experience and learn all about its journey.…

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European Space Agency
👉 https://www.esa.int
Great visuals and explanations about living and working in space.

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The European Space Agency portal features the latest news in space exploration, human spaceflight, launchers, telecommunications, navigation, monitoring and space science.

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Hidden Figures
The human stories behind space exploration and the power of maths and perseverance.

Hidden Figures is a 2016 biographical drama film directed by Theodore Melfi and adapted from Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly. It dramatizes the true story of three African American mathematicians—Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson—whose work at NASA was pivotal to the success of early U.S. space missions.

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Websites

👉 https://www.nasa.gov/artemis

Explore real missions, spacecraft, astronauts and Moon-to-Mars plans.

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The Moon is a 4.5-billion-year-old time capsule

With NASA's Artemis campaign, we are exploring the Moon for scientific discovery, technology advancement, and to learn how to live and work on another world as we prepare for human missions to Mars. We will collaborate with commercial and international partners and establish the first long-term presence on the Moon.

Artemis

Why We Are Going To The Moon

We're going back to the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and inspiration for a new generation of explorers: the Artemis Generation. While maintaining American leadership in exploration, we will build a global alliance and explore deep space for the benefit of all.

Learn More About the Moon about Why We Are Going To The Moon

Our success will change the world.

What more can we learn at the Moon?

The Moon is a treasure trove of science.

Earth's Moon is a 4.5-billion-year-old time capsule, pristinely preserved by the cold vacuum of space. The lunar samples returned during the Apollo Program dramatically changed our view of the solar system, and scientists continue to unlock new secrets from those samples. Yet, we are just scratching the surface of knowledge about the Moon. Future samples from Artemis missions will continue to advance our knowledge of the history and formation of our solar system including Earth and the Moon.

How much water is on the Moon, and why is that important for future exploration?

Water is a critical resource for long-term exploration.

Permanently shadowed regions of the Moon, including craters at the South Pole, are rich in frozen water. Finding it on the Moon, extracting it, and converting it means water for drinking, oxygen for breathing, and rocket fuel to power missions farther into the solar system. Finding and using resources in space makes exploration more affordable when we do not have to send everything from Earth. This is also important to help NASA get ready for our next giant leap - human exploration of Mars.

How can we grow a lunar economy?

For the Artemis missions, American innovation is leading the way, and the future at the Moon holds promise for a robust lunar marketplace.

NASA's strategy stimulates the commercial space industry, which drives new ideas, brings down costs, and grows the business opportunities that can foster a lunar economy and serve other customers for the benefit of humanity.

Artemis Accords

The Artemis Accords are grounded in the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, outlining the vision and principles for a safe, transparent environment that facilitates exploration, science, and commercial activities for all of humanity to enjoy. To date, 56 countries have joined the accords and are committed to establishing a peaceful, prosperous future in space. More countries will sign the Artemis Accords in the months and years ahead to ensure the entire world can benefit from our journey of exploration and discovery.

More About the Artemis Accords about Artemis Accords

All that we build, all that we study, all that we do, prepares us to go.

Beyond the Moon

Humans to Mars

Like the Moon, Mars is a rich destination for scientific discovery and a driver of technologies that will enable humans to travel and explore far from Earth.

Mars remains our horizon goal for human exploration because it is one of the only other places we know where life may have existed in the solar system. What we learn about the Red Planet will tell us more about our Earth's past and future, and may help answer whether life exists beyond our home planet.

Learn More about Humans to Mars

Discover More Topics From NASA

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https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzG1pG Relive the wonder of Artemis I

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"The Martian: Classroom Edition" by Andy Weir

Theme: Space Exploration, Physics, Chemistry

Summary: This special classroom edition of The Martian follows astronaut Mark Watney’s survival after being stranded on Mars. Using science and problem-solving skills, Watney tackles challenges like growing food and creating water in an alien environment. The book emphasizes resilience, creative thinking, and practical applications of science.

Why It’s Suitable: It’s filled with real-world science but presented in an exciting and approachable way, making it perfect for students interested in space and survival challenges.

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Design a Moon Base – Half Term Challenge

To celebrate the imminent launch of NASA’s Artemis programme, and humanity’s return to the Moon, the Science Department is launching a whole-school half-term challenge.

🌕 WHY
Artemis marks a landmark moment in space exploration, with astronauts preparing to orbit and land on the Moon for the first time in over 50 years. This challenge invites students to engage with real, current science and think like the scientists and engineers shaping our future.

🧠 WHAT
Students are challenged to Design a Moon Base capable of supporting astronauts to live and work safely on the Moon. Designs should consider living spaces, power, life support, protection from the Moon’s environment and areas for scientific research.

✏️ HOW
Entries can be submitted as:

a labelled drawing

a 3D model

or a digital design

Creativity and scientific thinking are encouraged.

📅 WHEN
Deadline: Friday 28th February