Name: Artemis II launch could be derailed by these factors
Uploaded: 2026-03-31T16:56:20.288Z
Duration: 1 min 55 s
Description: The countdown for NASA’s Artemis II test flight is clicking along at the Kennedy Space Center toward a possible launch at 6:24 p.m. EDT Wednesday. But before we can hear that exciting “liftoff” announcement, the weather must cooperate.

The countdown for NASA’s Artemis II test flight is clicking along at the Kennedy Space Center toward a possible launch at 6:24 p.m. EDT Wednesday. But before we can hear that exciting “liftoff” announcement, the weather must cooperate.

Cape Canaveral

The Artemis II launch from Cape Canaveral is subject to several weather and safety criteria that could delay liftoff. These include restrictions on lightning within 10 miles, sustained winds above 30 mph, the presence of cumulus clouds, and temperature limits between 41°F and 94°F for a 30-minute average.

Special lightning towers and careful monitoring of weather conditions are in place to protect the rocket and crew. While Artemis II is engineered to withstand the extreme temperatures of space, it remains highly sensitive to Earth's weather conditions during launch.

Artemis II launch could be derailed by these factors

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