Name: Why the Artemis II crew played cards right before launch
Uploaded: 2026-04-02T01:10:00.544Z
Duration: 4 min 3 s
Description: Minutes before departing for the launch pad on Wednesday, the Artemis II crew completed one final task: a game of cards. Retired NASA astronaut and U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Cassidy joins CBS News to discuss the mission.

Minutes before departing for the launch pad on Wednesday, the Artemis II crew completed one final task: a game of cards. Retired NASA astronaut and U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Cassidy joins CBS News to discuss the mission.

Florida

Before heading to the launch pad, the Artemis II crew participated in a longstanding NASA tradition by playing a card game with chief astronaut Scott Tingle. The ritual is intended to transfer any bad luck to the chief, ensuring the crew departs on a positive note.

Retired astronaut Chris Cassidy reflected on the emotional aspects of watching friends launch, the challenges of crew selection, and the technical details of the mission's lunar trajectory. Cassidy emphasized the mission's importance for NASA and humanity, and expressed hope that it will inspire future generations of explorers.

Why the Artemis II crew played cards right before launch

President Trump addressed the nation about the Iran war Wednesday night, saying that the U.S. would complete its mission there "very shortly." He also sought to assure Americans that the conflict with Iran would be brief compared to other wars in U.S. history and insisted that gas prices would go down quickly.

Washington

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The first payment to Ukraine under the €90 billion loan could happen in a matter of days after Hungary lifts its veto. EU officials, however, concede the dispute will be solved only after the country goes to the polls on April 12.

Brussels

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U.S. President Donald Trump is again threatening to pull the United States out of NATO, calling European allies "cowards" for their refusal to support the joint U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.

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President Donald Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to attend a Supreme Court hearing after showing up on Wednesday (April 1) to listen to arguments on his birthright citizenship executive order.

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American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was kidnapped in Iraq, was concerned about her safety before she was taken, one of her editors tells CBS News' Chris Livesay.

Baghdad

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The Artemis II mission to the moon is expected in a few hours if all goes according to plan. Linda Godwin, a retired astronaut and professor emeritus at the University of Missouri, joins CBS News with more.

Cape Canaveral

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Golf legend Tiger Woods said on Instagram that he's "stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment" and focus on his health following his DUI arrest after a car crash in Florida last week. His announcement comes as court documents reveal new details about his arrest.

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U.S. President Donald Trump says operations in the Middle East will end in 2 to 3 weeks, but the administration wouldn't confirm if it's planning a ground invasion. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the U.S. prefers a peace deal, adding, 'In the meantime we'll negotiate with bombs.'

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Trump targets birthright citizenship as the Supreme Court reopens the 14th Amendment battle, sparking protests and fears for U.S. identity.

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Heavy strikes hit Lebanon's capital Beirut overnight as Israel claimed it had struck a "senior Hezbollah commander" and another member of the group. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said his country's military intends to occupy a swathe of southern Lebanon.

Beirut

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Syria's president has met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London to discuss the return of Syrian refugees and potential British investment in his country. Ahmed al-Sharaa is trying to drum up support in Europe for Syria's economic recovery after years of conflict.

London

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President Trump lashed out at European allies who he said haven't done enough to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz to oil tanker traffic. Weijia Jiang has details.

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U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has called on NATO allies to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively closed by Iran during the ongoing war.

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The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday (March 31) in the case of a Colorado law banning conversion therapy for minors. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the lone dissenter.

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Spain's airspace is now closed to U.S. planes involved in attacks on Iran, a step beyond its previous denial of use of jointly operated military bases. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has become one of the most vocal critics of the U.S. and Israeli attacks in Iran.

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The FBI says the synagogue attack earlier in March was inspired by Hezbollah, targeting Michigan’s largest Jewish temple with a truck packed with fuel.

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High Representative Kaja Kallas gathered EU foreign ministers in Kyiv to honor the victims of the Bucha massacre, which has since then come to symbolize the search for justice and accountability in Ukraine.

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U.S. President Donald Trump has told aides that he is willing to end the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing officials.

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A new court filing reveals defense attorneys for Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk, claim an ATF analysis could not conclusively connect the bullet that killed Kirk to the gun Robinson allegedly used. Now the lawyers are asking to delay Robinson's preliminary hearing to review the evidence.

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A Tehran resident told CBS News many people have given up hope that the war will help topple the regime, adding that it is "ready at any cost" to stay in power. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has renewed threats to strike Iran's power plants.

Tehran

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump's partner in attacking Iran, said more than half of his military aims had been achieved, but both leaders refused to put a timeline on an operation that has ignited a month-long regional war and jolted global markets.

Jerusalem

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The White House said U.S. sanctions policy toward Cuba remains unchanged, even as a sanctioned Russian oil tanker was allowed to deliver fuel to the island on humanitarian grounds. The United States suspended Venezuela's oil exports to Cuba after American forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in early January.

Havana

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About 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports leave the country via the small island in the Persian Gulf's north, much of it destined for China and other Asian markets.

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Iran issued a warning to the U.S., against a possible ground invasion as both sides continue to launch air and missile strikes. Holly Williams has the latest.

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Millions of people protested at "No Kings" rallies across the U.S. and Europe over the weekend against the Trump administration's policies and the war in Iran. Organizers estimate at least 8 million participated in more than 3,300 protests worldwide.

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With Marines and the Army's 82nd Airborne Division amassing in the Middle East, President Trump on Air Force One wouldn't confirm if U.S. forces will head into Iran for a ground operation, only saying, "I just have lots of alternatives." It comes as members of both parties have voiced concerns.

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Israel’s parliament on March 30 passed its annual budget in a marathon overnight session, ensuring that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government can complete its term until the fall. The opposition slammed the budget for increasing funding to Israel's ultra-Orthodox communities at a time when the country is facing soaring costs over its war in Iran.

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A Russian oil tanker is poised to deliver some much-needed crude oil to Cuba. The Anatoly Kolodkin is expected to dock in the western port of Matanzas imminently, according to shipping tracker MarineTraffic. This comes after Donald Trump appears to have reversed the US blockade of the island nation.

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Media reports suggest the Pentagon is preparing for possible ground operations in Iran, though the White House says no decision has been made. The prospect of U.S. troops on the ground has sparked concern about the potential for a risky new phase in the conflict.

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President Trump has repeatedly claimed, including as recently as this weekend, that the war in Iran has been won. Still, he insists that Iran also wants to negotiate as more troops head to the Middle East.

Breakdown