{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "bskyPostRef": {
    "cid": "bafyreiemxiy7zjevr4d7vmmtromarcj5l3yc2rgtxhuzk64hrd6ctidz3y",
    "uri": "at://did:plc:oznbnvgr7dmvddiyvr7dih52/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfcp6wjx4k62"
  },
  "coverImage": {
    "$type": "blob",
    "ref": {
      "$link": "bafkreids7xvpgc5z45x6d5beo4qdbp47aebrzibkzewmugiqo2mbqsormu"
    },
    "mimeType": "image/jpeg",
    "size": 66637
  },
  "path": "/science/nasa-announces-date-moon-mission",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-20T16:36:38.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Astronomers think the Moon is SHRINKING after finding 1,000 cracks on lunar surface",
    "British space rocket company enters administration with 163 jobs at risk",
    "Nasa admits Earth is DEFENCELESS against 'city-killer' asteroids",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nNASA has confirmed a target date of March 6 to send astronauts around the Moon.\n\nThe Artemis II mission represents the first crewed lunar voyage in more than half a century.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe Apollo programme concluded in 1972 when Eugene Cernan, Ronald Evans and Harrison Schmitt ventured towards the Taurus-Littrow valley.\n\nFour astronauts will undertake what NASA describes as humanity's most distant journey into space to date.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nAdministrator Jared Isaacman hailed the progress as \"a big step toward America's return to the lunar environment\" on the social media platform X.\n\nThe crew comprises of three American astronauts alongside one Canadian team member.\n\nThe successful outcome followed a troubled first attempt earlier this month, when dangerous quantities of liquid hydrogen escaped during the initial fuelling demonstration.\n\nEngineers addressed the problem by fitting two replacement seals, enabling the test to proceed without significant leakage.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe countdown rehearsal reached its intended stopping point at the 29-second mark, demonstrating that the repairs had resolved the issue.\n\nCommander Reid Wiseman and two fellow crew members observed the operation alongside launch controllers at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.\n\nNASA's Lori Glaze noted that whilst the fixes proved effective, additional work remains outstanding, including completion of a flight readiness review.\n\nThe 10-day expedition will take the crew around the far side of the Moon before returning to Earth, establishing the groundwork for subsequent lunar landing missions.\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS\n\n\n\n\n  * Astronomers think the Moon is SHRINKING after finding 1,000 cracks on lunar surface\n  * British space rocket company enters administration with 163 jobs at risk\n  * Nasa admits Earth is DEFENCELESS against 'city-killer' asteroids\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTo preserve all available options, the astronauts are due to begin their mandatory two-week health isolation period on Friday evening.\n\nNASA faces a narrow launch window, with only five days available in March to send the crew aboard the Space Launch System rocket from Kennedy Space Center.\n\nShould the agency miss this opportunity, the next available dates would not arrive until April, after February's chances were lost due to the hydrogen leak complications.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards:The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Nasa announces date humans will be sent back around Moon in first crewed lunar voyage in half a century"
}