The Latest: Fueling begins as NASA aims to send 1st crew to the moon in 53 years
01.04.2026
Launch preparations have begun for the Artemis II mission, NASA’s planned lunar fly-around by four astronauts that will be the first moon trip in 53 years. Tensions were high as hydrogen fuel started flowing into the rocket hours ahead of the planned launch. The launch team needs to load more than 700,000 gallons of fuel (2.6 million liters) into the 32-story Space Launch System rocket on the pad before the Artemis II crew can board.