Rocket Report: Pentagon needs more missile interceptors; Artemis II clears review

Ars Technica
March 13, 2026
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2 min read

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NASA sets April 1 launch date for crewed lunar mission after years of delays.

AI Summary

NASA will launch Artemis II on April 1 at 6:24 pm EDT, skipping another fueling test on the Space Launch System rocket to check hydrogen loading line seals. Firefly Aerospace's Alpha rocket successfully returned to flight on March 11 from Vandenberg Space Force Base after a 10-month hiatus, completing its seventh mission and demonstrating upper stage restart capability. The rocket can carry more than a ton of payload to low-Earth orbit.

What's Being Done

NASA is skipping additional fueling tests to meet the launch schedule.

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