It’s been all over the web that the launch window for Artemis II starts in a month on Feb 6, 2026.
I was among the many people who noted that NASA said no such thing on the official Artemis II site, at least as of this the evening of Jan. 6.
They do say it will launch no later than April 2026. (Maybe they actually want to literally wait until “next April” this time?) I don’t know where this February date comes from.
The whole thing makes me queasy anyway. Too many recent videos of private spacecraft blowing up. And, I don’t like the yellow color of the booster insulation any more than I liked the orange they had before. The shuttles ended with yellow insulation, then they switched back to the orange for the earlier Artemis I model, and now it’s yellow again. Why? Was it actually the bad PR with the orange? AND the whole ship’s too overcomplicated now. AND IT IS TOO BIG. Why? WHY SO BIG NASA? Small worked last time for Apollo 14-17. It’s hubris.
I know there are rational explanations for all these things, but still, I don’t like any of it. I will be just sick with worry from February through April.