NASA shared the launch data available for its Artemis 2 mission to return astronauts to the lunar surface for the first time in over 50 years. There are a lot of stipulations regarding when Artemis 2’s SLS rocket can launch, which also means there are far fewer days than you may think.

Artemis 2’s launch window opens on February 6; although that is the earliest date on which a launch can take place, a launch date has yet to be chosen. First, NASA has to complete a wet dress rehearsal, which is where the SLS rocket is fully fueled with propellant and launch teams at Kennedy Space Center complete a mock countdown.

Once this is complete, a flight readiness review is held to determine if everyone from launch to crew is ready to fly and when they believe they can make it happen.

Because Artemis 2 is flying around the Moon and is following what is called a “free return” trajectory, where the Artemis 2 Orion capsule will return to Earth even if all thrusters stop working, the mission can’t launch on any day it likes.

NASA states that the pattern that all orbital requirements line up means Artemis 2 has one week of launch opportunities followed by three weeks of no launch opportunities. This is before any scrubbed launch attempts require replacements of consumables like propellants and liquid nitrogen, used to pressurize the vehicle.

This could mean that if Artemis 2 has multiple late scrubs in the launch count during one of those week-long launch periods, it could be forced to wait about a month to try again as it refills its tanks.

Artemis 2 launch dates

While NASA only provides launch dates up to the end of April, more launch dates do exist and will likely be shared if Artemis 2’s launch campaign extends that far into the future.

According to a table shared by NASA on launch times for each window, we will likely be witnessing this historic launch at night, like Artemis 1. There is only one day that NASA shares Artemis 2 could launch during the daylight hours, and that is hysterically on April 1, April Fool’s Day. You can’t say orbital mechanics doesn’t have a sense of humor.