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New York Times • Kenneth Chang, Marco Hernandez

Traditional primes built Artemis II rocket and Orion capsule

Artemis II's Space Launch System rocket and Orion crew capsule were built by established aerospace primes — notably Boeing and Lockheed Martin — rather than the high-profile newspace companies often in the spotlight. The hardware highlights legacy contractors' central role in NASA's return to crewed deep‑space flight.

2026-04-01T12:41:18.008344-07:00

New York Times

Christina Koch to Be the First Woman to Journey Around the Moon

2026-04-01T11:19:57.414022-07:00

New York Times

Victor Glover to be first Black astronaut to orbit the Moon as Artemis II pilot

2026-04-01T11:00:50.892807-07:00

Reuters

Argentina microsatellite to fly on Artemis II to test deep‑space navigation and radiation

2026-04-01T13:11:32.731860-07:00

News Timeline

Reuters

Argentina microsatellite to fly on Artemis II to test deep‑space navigation and radiation An Argentine-built microsatellite, the only Latin American payload chosen for NASA's return to the Moon, will fly on Artemis II to test experimental navigation systems and measure radiation far beyond Earth's orbit, providing in‑situ data during the mission's deep‑space transit.

2026-04-01T13:11:32.731860-07:00

Argentina microsatellite to fly on Artemis II to test deep‑space navigation and radiation

The War Zone

Rare NT-43A 737 Spotted Supporting Artemis II Launch Preparations Over Florida The uniquely rare NT-43A Boeing 737 — seldom seen in public — was photographed flying over Florida during final preparations for NASA’s Artemis II. The sighting came as teams ready for the first crewed lunar mission in decades, highlighting visible support assets deployed ahead of launch.

2026-04-01T12:58:51.146532-07:00

Rare NT-43A 737 Spotted Supporting Artemis II Launch Preparations Over Florida

New York Times

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Traditional primes built Artemis II rocket and Orion capsule Artemis II's Space Launch System rocket and Orion crew capsule were built by established aerospace primes — notably Boeing and Lockheed Martin — rather than the high-profile newspace companies often in the spotlight. The hardware highlights legacy contractors' central role in NASA's return to crewed deep‑space flight.

2026-04-01T12:41:18.008344-07:00

Traditional primes built Artemis II rocket and Orion capsule

New York Times

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Christina Koch to Be the First Woman to Journey Around the Moon Christina Koch will become the first woman to journey around the Moon. Koch previously set the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman and participated in NASA's first all‑female spacewalk, credentials cited as she is named to the upcoming lunar circumlunar flight.

2026-04-01T11:19:57.414022-07:00

Christina Koch to Be the First Woman to Journey Around the Moon

New York Times

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Victor Glover to be first Black astronaut to orbit the Moon as Artemis II pilot Victor Glover, named pilot of NASA's Artemis II crewed lunar flyby, will become the first Black astronaut to orbit the Moon. A veteran since 2013 and the first Black astronaut on a long‑duration ISS expedition, Glover's assignment spotlights an often‑overlooked lineage of Black American explorers.

2026-04-01T11:00:50.892807-07:00

Victor Glover to be first Black astronaut to orbit the Moon as Artemis II pilot

New York Times

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Reid Wiseman named commander of Artemis II, NASA's first crewed Moon mission since 1972 Reid Wiseman, who as a child never imagined becoming an astronaut, will command Artemis II — NASA’s first crewed mission to the Moon since 1972. The flight places Wiseman at the center of efforts to validate Orion systems and deep‑space operational procedures for future lunar returns.

2026-04-01T10:20:01.163500-07:00

Reid Wiseman named commander of Artemis II, NASA's first crewed Moon mission since 1972

Space.com

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Artemis II foregrounds human health: immune-system shifts and organ-on-a-chip tests on the crewed lunar flyby Artemis II's crewed lunar flyby will carry a biomedical suite probing immune-system shifts and organ-on-a-chip responses to deep-space conditions. Those experiments will characterise physiological changes beyond low Earth orbit and validate medical diagnostics and countermeasures required for sustained lunar operations and future Mars missions.

2026-04-01T10:16:52.330185-07:00

Artemis II foregrounds human health: immune-system shifts and organ-on-a-chip tests on the crewed lunar flyby

Space.com

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Artemis II crew depart O&C as launch‑day crowds swell on Florida Space Coast The four Artemis II astronauts emerged from NASA's Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building to cheers, as launch‑day activity and live updates ramp up along Florida's Space Coast. Tourists, media and local schools are converging on viewing sites ahead of the crewed lunar flyby attempt.

2026-04-01T09:01:09.393423-07:00

Artemis II crew depart O&C as launch‑day crowds swell on Florida Space Coast

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NASA News

Traditional primes built Artemis II rocket and Orion capsule

Christina Koch to Be the First Woman to Journey Around the Moon

Victor Glover to be first Black astronaut to orbit the Moon as Artemis II pilot

Argentina microsatellite to fly on Artemis II to test deep‑space navigation and radiation

News Timeline