The first manned mission to the moon in 54 years is only hours away from launch.
The 10-day Artemis II mission to orbit the moon is scheduled for lift-off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 1, weather permitting.
It will be the first manned mission toward the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972. The journey by a crew of four astronauts will include two trips around Earth before heading toward the moon, which they will orbit but not land on.
Here's what to know about when it will blast off and how to watch it.
What Time Does Artemis II Launch?
The launch is scheduled for 6:24 p.m. ET on April 1, weather permitting. NASA has a two-hour window for the launch from between 6:24 and 8:24 p.m. ET.
What Is the Weather Forecast for the Launch?
TODAY weatherman Al Roker is in Florida at the Kennedy Space Center to witness the launch in person.
He shared his excitement and delivered the expected weather forecast for the launch on TODAY April 1. Al, 71, recalled watching the broadcast when astronaut Neil Armstrong took man's first step on the moon in 1969.
"A teenage Al Roker, 15 years old, sitting there with my family, watching that black-and-white TV, it was amazing in 1969, and to be here again, it's such an honor," Al said.
Al shared that temperatures should be in the the low to mid-70s with a light sea breeze at the scheduled time of the launch.
How Can You Watch Artemis II Blast Off?
NASA will be streaming the launch live on its YouTube channel beginning at 12:50 p.m. ET on April 1. It also has cameras aboard the Orion spacecraft that will contain the crew and will stream video from their perspective of the launch.
What Happens If the Launch Is Postponed?
NASA has two other windows of time on April 2 and April 3 if the scheduled April 1 launch is called off for any reason.
In the second window between 7:22 p.m. and 9:22 p.m. ET on April 2, it’s expected to be partly cloudy in the 70s with a chance of thunderstorms, making it "a little more problematic," according to Al.
In the final available window of this week between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET on April 3, partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the 70s and a slight chance of showers are expected.
