NASA could be sending a crew on the Orion spacecraft out past the moon in less than a month if everything falls into place. But first the agency has to get its rocket to the launch pad.

For the second time in 2026, a SpaceX rocket is due to blast off from Southern California. Here's where (and what time) you may spot Falcon 9 liftoff

A Falcon 9 rocket carrying about 40 payloads, including NASA's Pandora exoplanet satellite, is scheduled to lift off from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base during a 57-minute window that opens at 8:19 a.m. EST (1319 GMT and 5:19 a.m. local California time).

NASA announced that the earliest launch window for Artemis II is Feb. 6, 2026, with 12 more possible dates available from February-April. The Artemis mission, a followup to the Apollo program, hopes to have astronauts back on the moon’s surface by 2027.

NASA plans to send four astronauts on a mission around the moon, the first human lunar mission in over 50 years. SpaceX is expected to debut a new version of its Starship megarocket and continue launching astronauts to the International Space Station.

The 250th anniversary year of the Declaration of Independence will also feature the historic Artemis 2 astronaut mission around the moon.

NASA plans to send four astronauts on a mission to circumnavigate the moon, the first human lunar mission in over 50 years. SpaceX is expected to debut a new version of its Starship megarocket and continue developing it for future moon and Mars missions.

NASA begins demolishing outdated facilities in Alabama as new administrator Jared Isaacman launches major infrastructure modernization efforts for space exploration.