New Delhi, March 14 -- Artemis II is set to launch on April 1, 2026, carrying four astronauts: NASA's Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. About eight minutes after takeoff, the Orion spacecraft will separate from the main rocket and enter orbit around Earth.

The rocket's upper stage, called the ICPS, will perform two engine burns to raise Orion to a safe high orbit. Once in orbit, the crew will spend the rest of the day checking Orion's systems-testing water and food systems, the toilet, and air filters. They'll also practice moving around and rearranging the cabin to live and work comfortably in weightlessness. The astronauts will even practice flying Orion near the ICPS, which...