NASA is gearing up to launch the Artemis 2 mission from the Kennedy Space Center, with astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen set to fly around the Moon. The launch is targeted for April 1, with a two-hour window from 6:24pm to 8:24pm EDT.
According to Wral News, weather conditions are currently favorable, with an 80% chance of a 'go,' but teams are closely monitoring several risks that could delay the mission.
Engineers began final preparations ahead of the countdown, with calls to stations scheduled for 4:34pm and the countdown clock starting at 4:44pm. NASA officials said cloud cover and possible strong ground winds remain the main concerns, and teams will continue tracking conditions closely.
Forecasters say the common seabreeze pattern in central Florida should not pose a major threat to the launch window, but they are watching cloud activity west of the launch site.
NASA's meteorologists are closely monitoring several weather factors, including cumulus cloud development, showers, strong winds, and even solar activity. Lightning is one of the biggest dangers, and weather officers use detailed data, experience, and strict safety rules to decide whether conditions are safe.
If conditions are not safe, NASA can 'scrub' or cancel the launch attempt. Backup launch dates between April 2 and April 6 are already being considered.
